Pakistan spinner Sufiyan Muqeem made history as he became the first cricketer to score more than 10 runs while batting at no. 12. His unexpected role came after a late change in Pakistan's lineup in their second ODI match against New Zealand at Hamilton on Wednesday, April 2.

Muqeem's sudden appearance in the 12th position was due to a concussion substitute ruling. Their fast bowler Haris Rauf suffered a head injury, which led Naseem Shah to replace him. 

The quick change pushed Muqeem into play, where he managed to add a crucial 13 runs in 10 balls with a four and six. His knock stood out in an otherwise tough game for Pakistan that day.

PAK falls to NZ for the second time

Despite Muqeem’s record, together with Faheem Ashraf and Naseem’s batting skills, Pakistan could not avoid defeat. New Zealand secured a series-clinching win in the second match, winning the three-match series 2-0.

Batting first, the hosts swiftly posted a 292/8 total in their 50 overs, while Pakistan struggled throughout the match, leaving with an 84-run deficit. Their final match will be played on Saturday, April 5, at Mount Maunganui.

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New Zealand’s all-around player Tom Latham has been ruled out of the upcoming ODI series against Pakistan after suffering a fractured right hand during training. His absence is a major blow for the team, as he is one of their most experienced players in the format.

With Tom sidelined, T20I captain Michael Bracewell is set to lead the squad in the series. The Black Caps also called on Henry Nicholls, who has 78 ODI caps and a strong recent form, and Mitchell Hay, who will take over wicket-keeping duties.

The squad's opener, Will Young, will play in the first game but has to sit out for the next ones to be with his pregnant wife, awaiting the birth of their child. Rhys Mariu will assume Young’s place as his maiden batting cover.

New Zealand will face Pakistan in a three-match ODI series, starting on Saturday, March 29.

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New Zealand thrashed Pakistan with a 115-run victory in the fourth T20I match at Mount Maunganui, sealing the five-match series at 3-1. This crushing defeat marks Pakistan’s worst-ever loss in T20 cricket.

Batting first, New Zealand posted a massive total of 220/6 in 20 overs. Finn Allen set a game-high 50 runs off just 20 balls. Tim Seifert added 44 off 22 balls, while Michael Bracewell quickly chipped in with 46 off 26. 

Allen was on a roll on match day. His record quickly grew as he hit six fours and three sixes, which helped the Black Caps�?score rise quickly. Their aggressive batting caused the Men in Green to fail to contain runs.

Pakistan’s shuddering defeat

Pakistan’s chase, however, collapsed from the start. The team was only at 9/3 within two overs, and NZ’s bowlers are to blame. Jacob Duffy and Zak Foulkes ripped through the top order as they claimed eight wickets in total.

Hassan Nawaz had already fallen for just one run. Irfan Khan managed to get 24 and Abdul Samad fought with a 44-run knock, but the Men in Green could only reach 105/10 in 16.2 overs.

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India claimed their third ICC Champions Trophy title with a 4-wicket victory over New Zealand in an intense final at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday, March 9, 2025. Captain Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill led the chase with a 105-run opening stand. India successfully posted a 254 for 6 in 49 overs.

New Zealand’s competitive start

Batting first, New Zealand posted 251 for 7 in 50 overs. Daryl Mitchell kicked off the innings with 63 runs off 101 balls, while Michael Bracewell provided support with an unbeaten 53 off 40 balls. India’s spinners controlled the game, with Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy taking two wickets each.

Rohit and Rahul lead India to victory

India started strong during their innings, with Sharma scoring a crucial 76 off 83 balls. His aggressive yet composed performance gave the team a solid foundation. 

After a minor collapse in the middle order, with the Black Caps claiming wickets—including Gill’s and Kohli’s—KL Rahul guided the team’s victory with an unbeaten 34 off 33 balls. 

The chase was completed in 49 overs, securing India’s second straight ICC tournament triumph after the recent Men's T20 World Cup.

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New Zealand secured a dominant 50-run victory over South Africa in the ICC Champions Trophy semifinal match in Lahore on Wednesday, March 5. The Black Caps posted a stunning 362/6 in 50 overs. This win booked their place in the final, where they will face India once again.

Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson starred with the bat, both securing centuries. Ravindra struck 108 off 101 balls, while Williamson added 102 from 94 deliveries. Glenn Phillips chipped in with a quick 49 off 27 balls, ensuring New Zealand a strong finish.

The Proteas showed early promise as Temba Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen built a steady foundation with 56 off 71 and 69 off 66, respectively. However, the Black Caps�?strong bowlers turned the game. Mitchell Santner was crucial, claiming 3 for 43.

Despite a brilliant 67-ball century from David Miller, the Proteas fell short—continuously losing wickets at crucial points in the game.

With this victory, New Zealand is on the way to their seventh ICC final and fourth ODI cricket. They will face India for the Champions Trophy title on Saturday, March 15.

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India secured their ICC Champions Trophy semifinal spot with a 44-run win over New Zealand at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday, March 02. Reserved spinner Varun Chakravarthy stole the spotlight with a five-wicket haul (fifer) that knocked down New Zealand’s chase.

This win not only sealed India’s place in the knockout stage but also witnessed star player Virat Kohli’s milestone. He became the seventh Indian cricketer to play 300 ODIs in history. Kohli celebrated in style, channeling his inner Cristiano Ronaldo with a signature ‘Siuuu�?on the field.

Star performances power India to win

Given the chance to bat first after New Zealand opted to bowl, India posted a total of 249/9 in 50 overs. Shreyas Iyer secured the first inning with a gritty 79 off 92 balls, with Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel chipping in a steady 45 and 42, respectively. Their teamwork held India stable after early wicket losses to New Zealand’s tough bowlers, led by Matt Henry.

However, Chakravarthy’s grit with the ball turned the match in India’s favour.  The ‘mystery spinner�?rattled the Black Caps batters with his debut 5/42, which also blocked them at 205. His fifer marked India’s third off the tournament.

Indian team captain Rohit Sharma shared admiration for the reserve. 'He has something different about him. There’s no doubt about it,�?he said. Initially a reserve for the Champions Trophy, Chakravarthy was later added to the main team, replacing Yashasvi Jaiswal.

NZ struggles with the bat

The Black Caps�?chase started shaky after losing wickets early. Pandya’s sharp bowls quickly dismissed Rachin Ravindra after posting a 17/1 play. Despite grabbing a brave 39 from Glenn Phillips and 32 from all-rounder Mitchell Santner, the team were reduced to 165/6 in 40 overs.

During the 41st over, Axar Patel stumped off the Black Caps�?Kane Williamson, ending the team's hopes. India’s pace attack was to blame. Led by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, New Zealand kept losing wickets at regular intervals.

Even Henry’s all-round play was not able to save them. The Black Caps were bowled out for 205/10 in 45.3 overs.

India to face Australia in the semifinals

After their victory against the Black Caps, the Men in Blue are set to face Australia in the semifinals on Tuesday, March 04, in Dubai. It’s a much-awaited game after India lost to Australia during the 2023 ICC World Cup finals.

Australia is known for their aggressive plays, which could be a challenge for India. However, with Chakravarthy on the rise and star players Kohli, Iyer, and Sharma leading the bat, India might stand a chance. 

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After an intense game, New Zealand came out on top as they defeated Bangladesh on Monday, February 24, 2025. The team will now advance to the semi-finals of the prestigious ICC Champions Trophy 2025. 

The scores tallied are as follows: New Zealand 240 for 5 and Bangladesh 236 for 9. NZ won by five wickets. 

NZ’s Rachin Ravindra scored 112 runs and Tom Latham did 55 runs, giving the team a massive boost. Bangladesh’s Shanto managed to score 77 runs making the captain the top scorer for his team. 

Fans were overjoyed and the stadium was filled with cheers, shouts, and chants in support of their favourite teams. 

Taskin Ahmed and Nahid Rana gave hope to Bangladesh with a good opening. Despite the team’s efforts and Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto’s powerful runs, the team still failed to secure a win. With this defeat, both Bangladesh and Pakistan are now eliminated in the Champions Trophy.

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Pakistan will host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, its first major cricket tournament in almost 30 years. The event starts in Karachi, where Pakistan will face New Zealand. 

This is a great moment as Pakistan has not hosted a top ICC event since 2009. That year, an attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore led to teams avoiding tours in the country. Former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq noted that Pakistan suffered for years as cricket moved away.

Cricket comes home in Pakistan

For a long time, Pakistan had to play 'home' games in the UAE. Now, fans can watch big matches in their stadiums. Former captain Aamer Sohail said the crowd’s energy was strong during a warm-up match against South Africa. 

However, India will not play in Pakistan due to political issues. If India and Pakistan meet in the final, the match will be in Dubai. Former captain Misbah-ul-Haq said that India-Pakistan matches go beyond just cricket, they are fueled with expectations and emotions. 

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