Rain Abolishes Pakistan-Bangladesh Match; Hosts Conclude Champions Trophy Winless

Pakistan’s Champions Trophy match against Bangladesh was abandoned due to rain, leaving them winless in the group stage. The team, despite their title defense as hosts, suffered defeats to New Zealand and India, finishing last in Group A. Both teams expressed disappointment over their lack of success, with a focus on improvement for future tournaments.

The final group match of the Champions Trophy between Pakistan and Bangladesh was rendered moot as rain led to its abandonment in Rawalpindi. This unfortunate end marked a disappointing conclusion to Pakistan’s title defense, as they finished at the bottom of Group A after losing matches to New Zealand and India. Both teams were already out of the running for the semi-finals prior to this match.

Pakistan’s performance in the tournament was a significant disappointment, particularly as they were the hosts and had high expectations following their 2017 tournament victory. Skipper Mohammad Rizwan expressed the team’s frustration, acknowledging their poor performance and the need for improvement in future matches. In a similar vein, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto lamented the loss of the opportunity to conclude the tournament positively due to the adverse weather conditions.

Ultimately, Pakistan concluded the tournament in fourth place, earning only one point and finishing beneath Bangladesh, who also gained one point but boasted a superior net run-rate. Persistent rain in Rawalpindi hindered play despite multiple inspections by the umpires, solidifying Pakistan’s failure to capture a single victory in the tournament. Meanwhile, India and New Zealand progressed to the semi-finals from Group A, while Group B features competition among South Africa, Australia, and Afghanistan for the remaining spots.

In summary, Pakistan’s Champions Trophy campaign ended in disappointment as they finished last in their group, failing to win any matches. The abandonment of their final game against Bangladesh due to rain illustrated a disappointing tournament overall for both teams, deprived of the chance to salvage a positive outcome. With high expectations for the hosts, the need for a thorough reassessment and a stronger future performance is clear.

Original Source: www.dawn.com