Pakistan vs New Zealand: 3 turning points in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opener

The most dreaded outcome that Pakistan would have considered the worst-case scenario just turned true for the hosts in Karachi. New Zealand thrashed the defending champions by 60 runs to open the ICC Champions Trophy. Having played Pakistan twice within a week before the ICC tournament opener, the Kiwis had gauged their standings all too well by now. Instead of redeeming their final loss in the ODI tri-national series, Pakistan dropped to a new low as they fumbled in all departments against the Kiwis, losing track of their title-defending campaign right at the start. A 60-run loss might eventually prove heavy enough for the hosts to be left behind in the qualification race for the semi-finals.

Pakistan vs New Zealand: Will Young and Tom Latham set the tone for victory 

Winning the toss, Pakistan skipper Mohammad Rizwan opted to bowl first on the batting-friendly surface at the National Stadium in Karachi. However, as the match unfolded, it became increasingly clear that the toss was the only thing to go in Pakistan's favor against the Kiwis. Opening the innings, Pakistan gained a semblance of control when pacers Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah dismissed opener Devon Conway and Kane Williamson in quick succession. However, the other opener, Will Young, stood firm at the crease as he raced to a well-paced century to set the winning tone for his team.

Though the Kiwis lost Daryl Mitchell cheaply, Young found an ideal partner in the in-form Tom Latham. The duo compensated well for the early loss of wickets, with Latham hitting some audacious shots against the Pakistan bowlers. Spinner Abrar Ahmed, at one point, was thrashed for a six and two fours by Latham in a single over as New Zealand launched a blitzkrieg in the conclusive phase of the innings. Going loud and big in their attack, Glenn Phillips struck at a strike rate of over 150.

With Shaheen Afridi and Ahmed being thrashed left, right, and center, Mohammad Rizwan appeared helpless as he shouted at the bowlers in frustration. With centuries by Will Young and Tom Latham and a finishing onslaught by Phillips, who smashed 61 off just 39 deliveries, New Zealand set a huge but not insurmountable score of 320.

An abysmal powerplay effort by Pakistan in the chase

Before coming to the ICC Champions Trophy, Pakistan had chased 352 against South Africa in the tri-national series. Counting on that performance, the hosts would have fancied their chances against the Kiwis as well. However, the defending champions never found their feet in the chase. With Fakhar Zaman forced to move down the order due to his injury, Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel opened the innings. Rarely is a player who scores a half-century referred to as enduring bad form. However, Babar Azam proved to be one of those rarities today. Both Shakeel and Azam played too cautiously in the powerplay.

In the scoring part of the chase, Shakeel managed just 6 off 19 before William O'Rourke dismissed him in the fourth over. Babar Azam, meanwhile, continued his sluggish approach, managing just 21 off 35 at the end of the powerplay. Fakhar Zaman, who came out to bat at three, couldn't change the tide and became part of Pakistan's powerplay problem. By the end of the first 10 overs, the hosts had notched just 33 runs, scoring at a sluggish rate of 4.73, an ominous sign that foretold the outcome of the match long before its conclusion.

Ineffectiveness against New Zealand spinners

Pakistan's remaining hopes were dashed when Glenn Phillips pulled off a superhuman effort to dismiss their in-form captain, Mohammad Rizwan, for just 3 runs. Though Salman Ali Agha made a courageous effort, smashing 42 off 28, he only ended up showing Babar Azam at the other end how to break the shackles. However, by then, it was too late.

Even a commendable 69 off 49 by all-rounder Khushdil Shah couldn't revive the chase, as Pakistan settled for minimizing the margin of defeat. What hurt Pakistan significantly was the batters' ineffectiveness against New Zealand's spinners. A captain's spell by Mitchell Santner saw the Kiwi spinner scalp three wickets, including the dismissal of Babar Azam at 64 off 90. Bracewell, meanwhile, cleaned up Fakhar Zaman, who could manage only 24 off 41.

Pakistan have an uphill battle ahead, now left hoping for all permutations to work in their favor. Their next fixture is against India in Dubai on February 23, with their arch-rivals boasting a spin-heavy arsenal. Based on what transpired in the ICC Champions Trophy opener, it would take a momentous effort, almost a miracle, for Pakistan to overcome India.