Champions Trophy 2025 begins with Pak vs NZ clash

Dubai: After all uncertainties and controversies, Champions Trophy 2025 kicked off on Wednesday in Karachi, with hosts Pakistan taking on New Zealand in the first match.    

Nearly after 29 years, Pakistan is hosting an ICC tournament. In the 2025 Champions Trophy, India will play their matches in Dubai, as they did not get clearance from the Indian Government to travel to Pakistan. 

Last time in 2016, the Sarfaraz Ahmed-led Pakistani side had defeated tournament favorite India. It will be a huge task for Mohammad Rizwan and company to repeat the 2016 in front of their home crowd. 

The participating teams made it to the global cricket tournament on their ranking in 2023 ODI World Cup, with Sri Lanka failing to make the cut for the first time. Afghanistan is making their debut in the 50-over ICC tournament.   

India to Play First Match on February 20

The Rohit Sharma-led side will open their campaign against Bangladesh in Dubai on Thursday. They will take on arch-rival Pakistan on February 23 and New Zealand on March 2. 

In the 2023 World Cup, the Indian team had reached the final, where Australia hammered them by 6 wickets, dashing the hopes of millions of people. 

Indian Squad for ICC Champions Trophy 

Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill (Vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy will represent India in Champions Trophy.

After India emerged victorious in the ICC T20 World Cup, the then BCCI secretary, Jay Shah, had said Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma would be part of the 2027 World Cup. However, speculations are doing rounds that this may be the last ICC tournament for Indian giants. 

India suffered a huge blow after star pacer Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out of the Champions Trophy due to an injury. Among other teams, Australia suffered the most as their five players, including pacers Micthell Starc and Pat Cummins, will not be part of the final 15.  

Pak vs NZ Clash

In the first match of the Champions Trophy, New Zealand are posing a stiff challenge to the hosts as the former had defeated Pakistan in the Tri-Nation series, with South Africa being the third team.    

For Pakistan, all eyes were on skipper Rizwan, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Harris Rauf and Shaheen Afridi in their campaign for title defence in front of the home crowd.

Meanwhile, New Zealand’s morale will be high as they enter the global tournament on the backdrop of a series win. The form of star batsman Kane Williamson will be an advantage for kiwis ahead of their first clash against the hosts. However, the injury of in-form batter Rachin Ravindra will be a worry for New Zealand. He was struck by the ball on his forehead during the recently concluded tri-series.

Whatever will be the result, it will surely be a pure treat for Pakistani fans, who are witnessing a global tournament after a gap of nearly three decades.