Champions Trophy 2025: Captain Rizwan Reacts on Pakistan’s Defeat to New Zealand

In the opening match of the Champions Trophy 2025, hosted in Karachi on Wednesday, New Zealand secured a commanding victory over Pakistan, defeating the home side by 60 runs. New Zealand delivered a dominant all-round performance, setting a formidable target with the bat and following it up with an impressive bowling display.

Batting first, New Zealand posted a massive total of 320 runs, which Pakistan failed to chase, managing only 260 runs before being bowled out. The crushing defeat left Pakistani fans deeply disappointed.

After the match, Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan expressed his concerns and made candid remarks about the team’s performance. Rizwan admitted that the failure of Pakistan’s top-order batsmen was a major setback. He also stated that his team did not expect New Zealand to set such a high target.

“We tried our best to restrict their batsmen, but they played exceptionally well, and our bowlers struggled,” Rizwan said. He also noted that while the pitch initially favored bowlers, it later turned into a batting paradise, allowing New Zealand to dominate. The visitors took full advantage, with two of their batsmen scoring centuries.

Adding to Pakistan’s woes, star player Fakhar Zaman sustained an injury while fielding in the very first over. As a result, Pakistan had to adjust their top-order lineup. Rizwan stated that Fakhar’s medical reports are still awaited, but for now, he is struggling with pain.

Looking ahead, Pakistan will face arch-rivals India in their second match of the tournament on February 23 in Dubai. Rizwan expressed confidence that his team would bounce back strongly for this crucial encounter.