The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy was supposed to be Pakistan’s grand homecoming, a cricketing spectacle that would silence critics and cement its status as a premier host nation. Instead, it turned into the ultimate ‘host who wasn’t invited to their own party’ situation. Not only did Pakistan crash out of the tournament faster than a T20 opener playing in Test mode, but the final itself also packed its bags and flew off to Dubai—because, well, India refused to play in Pakistan. If irony had a trophy, Pakistan would’ve at least reached that final.
The tournament, held from February 19 to March 9, promised thrilling encounters as eight teams competed for glory. Originally scheduled across Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi, India’s reluctance to play in Pakistan led to their matches—and eventually the final—being relocated to Dubai. While cricket fans in Pakistan were gearing up for a festive event, they were instead left watching their team bow out in record time, making this home tournament feel more like an away series for them.
Tournament Overview
The Champions Trophy featured two groups:
- Group A: Pakistan, India, New Zealand, and Bangladesh.
- Group B: Australia, England, South Africa, and Afghanistan.
Pakistan kicked off their campaign on February 19 with a 60-run loss to New Zealand in Karachi, setting the tone for what would soon become a disastrous run. Then came the blockbuster clash against India on February 23 in Dubai—an opportunity for redemption. Instead, Pakistan folded like a cheap lawn chair, suffering a six-wicket defeat. By the time they were scheduled to face Bangladesh, rain decided to show mercy on Pakistan before India or New Zealand could do any further damage. The washed-out match meant Pakistan finished at the bottom of the group without a single win—something even their critics couldn’t have predicted in their wildest dreams.
India, on the other hand, took full advantage of their ‘away-home’ advantage in Dubai. They began with a six-wicket win over Bangladesh on February 20, then followed it up with a commanding performance against Pakistan. To cement their dominance, they outplayed New Zealand on March 2 with a 44-run victory, finishing atop Group A with a flawless record.
New Zealand had a solid tournament, securing a 60-run win over Pakistan and a five-wicket victory against Bangladesh on February 24. Their only setback was a loss to India, but that didn’t stop them from booking a semi-final berth as the second-placed team.
Group B Chaos
In Group B, South Africa flexed their muscles early on, hammering Afghanistan by 107 runs on February 21. A rain-affected match against Australia resulted in a no-contest, but they ensured a semi-final spot with a seven-wicket win over England on March 1.
Australia had a rollercoaster ride. They edged past England with a five-wicket victory on February 22 but had their match against South Africa abandoned. Another washed-out game against Afghanistan on February 28 meant they had to rely on net run rate to squeeze into the semi-finals.
Afghanistan’s campaign included a historic eight-run win over England on February 26, a moment of glory before their exit. England, meanwhile, took a different approach—losing everything. Three defeats in three matches made them the tournament’s biggest underachievers.
India and Australia faced off in the first semi-final on March 4 in Dubai. Australia set a competitive target, but Virat Kohli’s majestic 84 ensured India chased it down with 11 balls to spare, winning by four wickets.
The second semi-final on March 5 in Lahore featured New Zealand against South Africa. Rachin Ravindra (108) and Kane Williamson (102) propelled New Zealand to a strong 362-6. South Africa fought back with a gutsy century from David Miller (100 off 67 balls), but they fell short by 50 runs. New Zealand was through to the final.
Originally, the final was scheduled to be played in Lahore. But with India in the mix, the match was moved to Dubai, making Pakistan the first-ever Champions Trophy host to neither have their team in the final nor the final in their country. If cricket had a ‘better luck next time’ award, Pakistan would’ve won it hands down.
The 2025 Champions Trophy will be remembered for its unexpected twists, political entanglements, and Pakistan’s unfortunate hosting predicament. While India and New Zealand prepare for the ultimate showdown, Pakistani fans are left with one lingering question: “Can we at least keep the souvenirs?”
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Coverpage’s editorial stance.
