Folks with their cell phones take images of the ICC Champions trophy, throughout a ceremony on the Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium in Peshawar, February 6, 2025. — Reuters Event to be performed throughout 3 venues in Pakistan, additionally in Dubai.Naqvi calls internet hosting ICC event “matter of pride for Pakistan.”Inexperienced Shirts will tackle New Zealand in first encounter.
Pakistan will host the primary main cricket event in nearly three many years from Wednesday with the Inexperienced Shirts, winners of the 2017 version, taking over New Zealand within the opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on the Nationwide Stadium in Karachi.
The primary ball of the match might be bowled at 2pm PST.
Pakistan final hosted an ICC occasion in 1996 — ICC Cricket World Cup 1996, which concluded with the ultimate on the Gaddafi Stadium, the place Sri Lanka defeated Australia by seven wickets.
Pakistan turned a no-go zone for worldwide sides in 2009 after terrorists attacked a bus carrying Sri Lanka’s staff in Lahore, wounding a number of gamers and killing eight policemen and civilians. However with a sweeping crackdown that began in 2014 and lasted a number of years, safety has vastly improved within the South Asian nation.
Take a look at cricket returned to Pakistan in 2019 and Australia, England, New Zealand and South Africa later toured the nation, serving to Pakistan´s bid to host the event.
The eight-team event might be performed throughout three venues in Pakistan – Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi – in addition to in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 19 February to 9 March.
The build-up has not been with out issues after neighbours and arch-rivals India refused to play in Pakistan over long-standing political tensions. A powerhouse of the game on and off the pitch, India will as an alternative play their matches in Dubai.
The nation has stepped up safety, particularly in host cities Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi, even when assaults in main cities are more and more uncommon.
Pakistan’s police commando walks previous posters displayed forward of the Champions Trophy, outdoors the Nationwide Stadium in Karachi on February 17, 2025. — AFP
Within the lead-up to the ICC Champions Trophy, the three venues in Pakistan – Gaddafi Stadium Lahore, Nationwide Stadium Karachi and Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium – have undergone main upgrades, providing gamers and spectators world-class services.
“Pakistan is fully prepared to host the Champions Trophy,” said Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi. “Worldwide commonplace services might be supplied to all of the groups. Followers within the stadiums might be given all potential services.
“Holding an ICC tournament after 29 years is a matter of pride for Pakistan and we will further raise the honour of the country by successfully hosting the Champions Trophy,” he stated in a press release.
The cricket board, in a press release, shared that the highly-anticipated opening ceremony will characteristic an air present by the Pakistan Air Pressure’s (PAF) acrobatic staff ‘Sher Dils’ and the enduring F-16 fighter jets, whereas President Asif Ali Zardari would be the chief visitor.
Pakistan’s journey
Pakistan enter the event because the defending champions, having overwhelmed India within the ultimate of the 2017 version. The staff was led by Sarfaraz Ahmed. Fakhar Zaman was the participant of the ultimate for his imperious 114 off 106 deliveries, whereas Hasan Ali was named the participant of the event for his tally of 13 wickets in 5 video games.
Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi (third from left) celebrates taking a wicket in the course of the tri-nation ODI sequence match in opposition to South Africa on the Nationwide Financial institution Stadium in Karachi on February 12, 2025. — PCB
The eight collaborating groups have been divided into two teams with hosts Pakistan, Bangladesh, India and New Zealand pooled in Group Some time Group B includes Afghanistan, present ODI World Cup champions Australia, England and South Africa.
Within the group stage, three matches apiece might be performed in Dubai, Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi.
The primary semi-final might be performed on March 4 in Dubai. The newly upgraded Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore will host the second semi-final on March 5. If India don’t qualify, the ultimate will happen on the Gaddafi Stadium on March 9, nonetheless, in the event that they qualify, will probably be held on the Dubai Worldwide Cricket Stadium.
Other than profitable the event in 2017, Pakistan has additionally reached the semi-finals of this competitors on three events: 2000, 2004 and 2009.
“A global event has come to Pakistan after 29 years, so I believe the entire nation is celebrating this historic occasion. There are no doubts about our performance, we have worked hard and learned from our mistakes. We hope that we play well tomorrow Insha’Allah,” said Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan.
“Our sole focus is on winning the tournament for the country and our people and we hope that we achieve the desired results.”
Pakistan’s 15-player squad:
Mohammad Rizwan (captain & wicket-keeper), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan.
Pakistan’s group stage fixtures within the ICC Champions Trophy 2025:
19 Feb – vs New Zealand, Karachi
23 Feb – vs India, Dubai
27 Feb – vs Bangladesh, Rawalpindi
— With further enter from AFP
