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Dubai – Pakistan has qualified for the Champions Trophy final for the first time ever, after thrashing England by eight wickets in the all-important semi-final in Cardiff on Wednesday.
Set just 212 to win, Pakistan finished on 215 for two.
Pakistan will now face title-holders India in Sunday’s final at the Oval if their arch-rivals beat Bangladesh in Thursday’s second semi-final at Edgbaston.
Azhar Ali (76) and Fakhar Zaman (57) all but ended previously unbeaten tournament hosts England’s slim hopes of victory with an opening stand of 118.
But the real damage was done when England collapsed to 211 all out after Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed won the toss on a used pitch that played more like a sub-continental surface than a British one.

Paceman Hasan Ali led a disciplined attack with a man-of-the-match return of three for 35 from his maximum 10 overs.
“Credit goes to the bowlers and the batters who finished it very well,” said Sarfraz at the presentation ceremony.
“We adapted to conditions, we knew if we restrict them we could easily chase it down,” he added.
“Every game is a knockout game and I told my boys to play their game and not worry about the result.”
Defeat extended England’s long wait for a maiden major one-day international title until at least 2019 — when they stage the next World Cup.
“One thing we didn’t do was adapt to conditions, which I thought Pakistan did extremely well,” said England captain Eoin Morgan.
“We did prepare for a used wicket but 211 wasn’t a good score. 250/270 would have been.”
He added: “The fact we’ve produced brilliant performances in this tournament and then play like that on this wicket is extremely disappointing.”
Pakistan’s openers compounded England’s misery to the delight of their supporters at a sun-drenched Cardiff.

The dashing Fakhar completed a 49-ball fifty to follow his 50 against Sri Lanka.
Azhar, who pulled all-rounder Ben Stokes for six, followed him to the landmark in 68 balls.
On a Cardiff ground where they chased more than 300 to beat England in an ODI last year, Pakistan completed Wednesday’s pursuit with a mammoth 77 balls to spare when Mohammad Hafeez pulled Stokes for four.
England did avoid a 10-wicket defeat when Jos Buttler stumped Fakhar off leg-spinner Adil Rashid and Azhar too fell before the finish, pulling Jake Ball into his stumps.