The World Cup winner is horrified as Pakistan drops 8 catches against New Zealand and India is eliminated from the Women's T20 World Cup

Pakistan dropped as many as eight catches in their must-win Women's T20 World Cup Group A match against New Zealand in Dubai on Monday. New Zealand won the game by 54 runs, qualifying for the semi-finals for the first time since 2016. The result not only ended Pakistan's slim chances but also knocked India out of the tournament. For India to qualify, Pakistan had to beat New Zealand, but on a day when points were difficult to score, the Pakistan team found themselves in the limelight for all the wrong reasons.

Pakistan dropped catches in the 5th (4.2), 6th (5.2), 8th (7.3), 16th (15.5) and 18th (17.2) overs while in the 20th. (19.1, 19.3 and 19.5) alone three catches were achieved.

Former Indian fast bowler Munaf Patel was shocked at Pakistan's performance against New Zealand. “You know how many catches #Pakistan dropped in today's game,” the 2011 World Cup-winning cricketer wrote on social media platform X with a picture of a Pakistan fielder dropping a catch.

New Zealand marches into the semi-finals

Opting to bat first, Sophie Devine's side were shackled by the Pakistani spin attack and managed to post a below-par total of 110 for six from 20 overs.

Chasing a huge rise in net run rate, Pakistan were bowled out with 56 all-outs – the second-lowest all-out total in the tournament's history – as they and India exited Group A.

Openers Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer got off to an excellent start, leading the White Ferns to 39 without a powerplay loss.

Bates continued with a run-a-ball in the first six overs but took advantage of her luck, surviving an lbw review in the first over and securing a lifeline when she was dropped at mid-wicket on the 20th.

Eventually, 20-year-old Plimmer's aggressive instincts got the better of her as she charged towards Nashra Sandhu and skied to Fatima Sana on the 17th.

Pakistan had the contest firmly in control thanks to weak attacks from spinners Nashra and Omaima Sohail, while New Zealand played 54 balls without hitting a boundary.

Nashra sparked another rush with a Kiwi opener, with Bates spooning a high catch to Nida Dar from long range to make it 50-2.

Amelia Kerr never got going and Omaima grabbed her first wicket when Kerr picked Fatima to score nine runs in 17 balls.

Nida and teenager Syeda Aroob Shah continued the pressure but Brooke Halliday hit two fours in the 15th over to give New Zealand's innings some much-needed momentum.

Pakistan were left to rue a few dropped catches as Halliday and captain Sophie Devine built a patient partnership and the two were dismissed one after the other at 96-5.

New Zealand capitalized on further missed opportunities as Maddy Green and Isabella Gaze put up a competitive score.

With Pakistan's highest opening partnership in the tournament totaling 13, Aliya Riaz was promoted from her usual role as a player to replace Gull Feroza at the top of the order.

Pakistan needed to reach their target in 10.4 overs to secure an unlikely place in the knockout stages.

The experiment didn't pay off and Devine's decision to open with spinner Eden Carson was rewarded when Aliya steered a catch to the skipper midway through the game.

The White Ferns were hot on the field and speedster Lea Tahuhu cleared Muneeba Ali for 15 minutes to stamp her authority.

Two wickets fell in Fran Jonas's first over as Sadaf Shamas was bowled cleanly and Iram Javed was out when he delivered a risky single to short third.

Pakistan's collapse continued as Sidra Amin was bowled by Rosemary Mair for a golden duck as they went down at 28 for five.

The experienced pair of Fatima and Nida briefly steadied the ship and the former beat Mair for good four-way coverage in the ninth over.

The pair put on 32 runs but Nida was overwhelmed by Kerr and the last five wickets fell for just four runs, leaving Pakistan to their lowest ever total in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup.