The Champions Trophy 2025 is a landmark event for Pakistan cricket with the nation internet hosting a serious ICC event for the primary time in almost three many years. Nevertheless, the primary impression will not be on top of things, with one noticeable factor throughout the opening recreation between Pakistan and New Zealand. Grandstands on the Nationwide Stadium in Karachi appeared markedly empty, with many stands not even half full at the beginning of play. Former England captain Michael Vaughan additionally pointed this out.
“Nice to see the Champions Trophy being performed in Pakistan. First main occasion since 1996. Have they forgotten to inform the locals it is on? The place is the gang?” Vaughan posted on X.
Nice to see the champions trophy being performed in Pakistan .. First main occasion since 1996 .. Have they forgotten to inform the locals it is on .. The place is the gang ?? #ChampionsTrophy2025
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 19, 2025
The need for Pakistan to make a very good impression has additional elevated because of the delay that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confronted within the completion of the stadium renovations.
All three stadiums for the Champions Trophy – the Nationwide Stadium in Karachi, the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore and the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium – had been renovated utterly with lower than two weeks remaining until the beginning of the event.
Followers not turning up for the beginning of the very first recreation of hosts Pakistan, who’re additionally the defending champions, paints an unideal image for them.
Greater than half of the stadium is empty in Karachi that too when house staff is taking part in.
Is it even value giving such large event to Pakistan? #PakvsNz pic.twitter.com/oEssQPoo0x
— Ctrl C Ctrl Memes (@Ctrlmemes_) February 19, 2025
Pakistan vs New Zealand: Champions Trophy 2025
For the third time in 11 days, Pakistan took on New Zealand in an ODI, having misplaced to them twice throughout the recently-concluded tri-nation collection that additionally featured South Africa.
Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan received the toss and elected to area, however Pakistan suffered an enormous blow on the simply second ball of the competition.
Star batter Fakhar Zaman – who’d slammed a sensational century when Pakistan beat India within the 2017 Champions Trophy closing – received injured attempting to cease a boundary within the deep.
Pakistan are already going through issues with their opening mixture after Saim Ayub‘s damage, and Fakhar Zaman probably being dominated out would additional compile their distress.
For New Zealand, opener Will Younger starred. Younger slammed an excellent 107 off 113 balls, citing the primary century of the Champions Trophy 2025.
Younger laced his innings with 12 fours and a six, and was ably supported by Check captain and wicket-keeper batter Tom Latham.
Younger was finally dismissed after an excellent catch by substitute fielder Faheem Ashraf.
Pakistan and New Zealand will face India and Bangladesh within the group section as properly, with the video games towards India going down in Dubai.
Matters talked about on this article
