Pakistan has concluded their 2025 ICC Champions Trophy campaign at the bottom of Group A without a win, replicating a record set by Kenya in 2000. The team’s losses to New Zealand and India led to their exit after New Zealand’s victory over Bangladesh sealed their fate, leaving Pakistan tied on points but lower due to Net Run Rate.

Pakistan’s performance in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy has been disappointing as they finished last in Group A after a rain-affected match against Bangladesh. Consequently, they have matched Kenya’s unfortunate record of not securing a single victory as hosts in Champions Trophy history. Previously, Kenya failed to win any matches in the 2000 tournament, which was structured as a knockout competition.

The last occurrence of a host team finishing at the bottom was in 2009, when South Africa ended fourth in their group alongside Sri Lanka, England, and New Zealand. Despite being the host for the first time since 1996, the high hopes for Pakistan were dashed as they exited without any wins.

Pakistan began their campaign with a 60-run loss to New Zealand and followed it with a six-wicket defeat to India. Their elimination was solidified when New Zealand emerged victorious against Bangladesh, confirming Pakistan’s exit. Although both Pakistan and Bangladesh accrued one point, Bangladesh ranked higher due to a superior Net Run Rate (NRR).

In summary, Pakistan’s performance in their own hosted ICC Champions Trophy was historically poor, replicating Kenya’s failure to win a match as hosts back in 2000. After losses to New Zealand and India, Pakistan finished last in their group and exited the tournament without a single win, despite initial high expectations. Comparatively, Bangladesh also failed to progress, but managed to achieve a higher ranking due to better NRR. Overall, the tournament highlighted the challenges faced by host nations and the unpredictability of competitive cricket.

Original Source: www.cricket.com