Pakistan and Bangladesh’s final group-stage match in the Champions Trophy is abandoned due to rain in Rawalpindi, resulting in both teams exiting the tournament.
Rain caused the abandonment of the ICC Champions Trophy match between Pakistan and Bangladesh in their final group-stage encounter in Rawalpindi.
The pitch remained under covers throughout Thursday due to continuous rainfall, and the umpires officially called off the game at 3:30 pm local time, one and a half hours after its scheduled start.
Both teams had already been eliminated from semifinal contention after defeats to India and New Zealand. The washout marked a disappointing end to their tournament, particularly for Pakistan, the hosts and defending champions.
Earlier in the week, rain in Rawalpindi also led to the abandonment of the South Africa-Australia Group B match on Tuesday.
New Zealand, who defeated Pakistan by 60 runs in the opening match, secured their playoff spot with a five-wicket victory over Bangladesh on Monday in Rawalpindi, which hosted three Champions Trophy matches.
India, meanwhile, defeated both Bangladesh and Pakistan in Dubai to qualify for the semifinals.
This marks Pakistan’s third consecutive ICC tournament exit in the first round, following their performances in the 2023 ODI World Cup and last year’s T20 World Cup.
“It’s been shocking for us that we haven’t played well in ICC tournaments,” said Pakistan’s assistant coach Azhar Mahmood.
Mahmood attributed the team’s struggles to injuries to opening batters Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub, which led to Pakistan playing 308 dot balls in their completed matches against India and New Zealand.
“We have played good cricket in this format, but in this tournament, it has not gone well because of injuries,” Mahmood explained. “Against India, we took a lot of pressure on ourselves, but we know where we need to improve. It’s all about adapting and taking responsibility.”
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