Karachi, Pakistan – February 19, 2025 – Defending champions Pakistan kicked off their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign against New Zealand at the National Stadium in Karachi, marking the nation's return as a global cricket host after 29 years.
Winning the toss, Pakistan opted to bowl first. Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed provided an early breakthrough, dismissing Devon Conway with a sharp delivery. Naseem Shah soon followed up, removing Kane Williamson, but New Zealand steadied their innings through a resilient partnership between Will Young and Tom Latham.
Young played a masterful knock, reaching a century (107) before Naseem broke the 118-run stand. Latham was nearing 70 runs, adding important stability to the innings. Despite the home advantage, Pakistan faces several concerns, particularly the form of their key batters, including captain Babar Azam, while Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha remain the most consistent performers.
Pakistan's bowling attack, featuring Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah, has struggled on flat wickets, raising concerns about their effectiveness in crucial matches. The fitness of Haris Rauf remains uncertain, and the lack of a match-winning spinner continues to be a challenge. However, Abrar Ahmed’s inclusion aims to fill this gap.
The Karachi pitch is expected to be batting-friendly, offering minimal assistance to fast bowlers. Spinners are likely to play a bigger role as the match progresses. The average first-innings score at this venue hovers around 260-270, making it a competitive but chaseable total.
New Zealand set a formidable target of 320 runs for Pakistan in 50 overs.
With the Champions Trophy returning to Pakistan, the tournament opener in Karachi marks a historic moment for the nation and its passionate cricket fans, rekindling international cricket on home soil after nearly three decades.
