RAWALPINDI, Pakistan — The anticipated clash between Pakistan and Bangladesh in the Champions Trophy was canceled on Thursday due to persistent rain.
The playing square remained covered throughout the day, and the umpires declared the game off at 3:30 p.m. local time, about 90 minutes after the scheduled start.
Both teams were unable to secure a place in the semifinals after previous losses to India and New Zealand, adding to the disappointment of this rain-induced match cancellation, especially for Pakistan who were the host and defending champions.
Rainy weather had earlier caused the abandonment of the match between South Africa and Australia in Group B on Tuesday.
New Zealand managed to secure a playoff spot by defeating Pakistan by 60 runs in the opening game.
This was followed by a five-wicket victory over Bangladesh last Monday, also at Rawalpindi, one of the venues accorded three Champions Trophy fixtures.
India emerged victorious over both Bangladesh and Pakistan in Dubai, ensuring their place in the semifinals.
This marks the third consecutive ICC tournament where Pakistan has failed to move past the first round.
Previously, the team struggled in the 50-over World Cup earlier this year and the T20 World Cup from the previous year.
Pakistan’s assistant coach, Azhar Mahmood, expressed his dismay, stating, “It’s been shocking for us that we haven’t played well in ICC tournaments.”
He attributed the team’s challenges to injuries suffered by key opening batsmen Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub, noting that the team played 308 dot balls in matches against India and New Zealand.
Mahmood added, “We have played good cricket in this format, but in this tournament, it has not gone well because of injuries.”
He continued, “Against India, we took a lot of pressure on ourselves, but we know where we need to improve. It is all about adapting and taking responsibility.”
