Bangladesh must win to keep semi-final hopes alive
India’s defeat of Pakistan on Sunday has suddenly made Monday’s game between Bangladesh and New Zealand a critical one for Pakistan. A win for the Black Caps means Pakistan’s title defence will come to an end as they won’t be able to reach the semis. If Bangladesh win however, there is scope for a three-way tie at the bottom of the pool and Pakistan could live to fight another day.
A win for New Zealand will ensure them a place in the semi-finals alongside India, while for Bangladesh, they must win to have a chance of advancing. It is a high stakes encounter at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
The venue for Monday’s game is expected to be batsman friendly and a high-scoring game could well be on the cards. Expect the wicket to offer some assistance to the quicks early on, but as the game progresses it will lend itself to stroke play.
Bangladesh v New Zealand | Champions Trophy Game 6 | Monday 24 February 2025 | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi | 11:00am
Current form (most recent games first)
Bangladesh: L, L, L, L, L.
New Zealand: W, W, W, W, L.
Key players
Bangladesh: If the Tigers are going to succeed with the bat they will need a good start, and skipper and number three batsman Najmul Hossain Shanto is the man who will need to shine. He is a leader and a player who has the ability to impose himself. More than anything, Bangladesh needs to play fearlessly and as if they have nothing to lose and that attitude needs to come from the top. Shanto made a duck last time out, against India, but he will need to play a big innings on Monday if his team are to have any chance of progressing.
New Zealand: The Black Caps are stacked with a host of in-form players. It is hard to pick one. Their batsmen have all been in great touch recently while their bowlers have been good at getting the job done. Four wins from their last four games, three of those over Pakistan (in Pakistan), speaks of a team in a good place. But watch out for middle-order batsman Glenn Phillips who is playing like he doesn’t have a care in the world. Last time out, in the tournament opener against Pakistan he whacked a brisk 61 from 39 balls. Before that he made undefeated scores of 20, 28 and 106. That means that since arriving in Pakistan he is averaging 215 with the bat. And that with a strike rate that is better than run-a-ball.
Verdict: New Zealand
The Black Caps appear to have everything they need on their side. They like the conditions in Pakistan, their players outrank their counterparts from Bangladesh and, most importantly, they are in form. On a pitch that will offer the quicks something early on, New Zealand also have the edge with the attack. It will be a major surprise if Bangladesh are able to win in Rawalpindi
