End of Pakistan in Champions Trophy, Kiwis up against India after 25 years in repeat of 2000 final

Game. Set. Match. Two teams from Group A, India and New Zealand will be battling for the ICC Champions Trophy glory. The two mega teams have qualified for the Champions Trophy final on March 9, Sunday. While the Men in Blue beat Australia in the opening semifinal, New Zealand have followed by thrashing South Africa quite thoroughly in the second affair in Lahore. Centuries from Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson took the Kiwis to the highest team total at ICC Champions Trophy history. The score of 362/9 proved to be an arduous task for the Proteas.

India vs New Zealand ICC Champions Trophy Final After 25 Years

Well, after 14 enthralling matches, the two finalists are here. India, who have been spotless in the campaign, will surely enter the final as favourites. As for New Zealand, their only blemish came against Rohit Sharma’s side only. India beat New Zealand in what was the last league match of the campaign. The encounter was purely dominated by the Indian spinners, who chocked the Kiwi batters with four tweakers. Varun Chakaravarthy, playing his maiden Champions Trophy game, took a fifer to become a must for the semis and final.

It would be fascinating how New Zealand strategies for the summit clash on Sunday. The conditions in Dubai would be totally different from that of Lahore. The only time these two teams met at a Champions Trophy final was in 2000 when the Kiwis won by 4 wickets. Sourav Ganguly scored a century in Nairobi that took India to 264/6. New Zealand, despite a stuttering start, chased down the total in the last over. Chris Cairns scored an unbeaten century. The tables could turn after 25 years.

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Did Pakistan really host Champions Trophy?

For the first time in cricket’s history, the hosts won’t be hosting the final of an event! Pakistan, who gave their everything to get the hosting rights despite the countless impasse with India, got to host only 10 out of 15 Champions Trophy matches. That is less than 70 percent! Out of those 10 matches, two matches were abandoned with a ball being bowled. Also, the Australia vs Afghanistan called was also a no-result due to rain.

So, basically, Pakistan hosted almost 46% of completed matches! Did they really hosted a mega ICC event after three decades? It is absolutely a shame for the Pakistan fans and even for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that put so much efforts and investments just to be presentable for the event. Their team became the first team to get knocked out of the tournament and now the final will not be hosted in the country as well. Dubai, that has been the hunting ground for the Men in Blue, will give a chance to India and New Zealand to add to their trophy cabinet.