🏏Champions Trophy: Pakistan vs New Zealand, Match 1, Gr A Karachi🏏 - Page 3

12.50pm Leading up to this tournament-opener, there's quite a bit of focus on Rachin Ravindra, who hasn't played a game since suffering that freak head injury during the first match of the recent ODI tri-series. Danyal Rasool watched him bat at the nets yesterday, and he looked in good shape, but New Zealand have been cautious about his return, and haven't yet confirmed if he'll start today.

Mustafa Moudi: "Fun Fact: The World Cup 2011 too begin on 19th February. Interestingly, India had won their last trophy before was in the 8th Year of the last decade and exited in Group Stage Itself of the Last ICC tournament (CT 2009). India went on to win that World Cup. This Event too is beginning on 19th Feb, Pak won their Last ICC Trophy in the 8th year of last decade (CT 2017) and exited in the League Stage of the Last ICC Tournament - T20 WC 2024. Good News for Pakistan !!"

Uqman Baloch: "The excitement is sky-high as Pakistan gears up to host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025! Cricket fans across the country are eagerly awaiting the return of this prestigious tournament on home soil after years. The passion, the energy, and the love for the game in Pakistan are unmatched, and this event promises to be a spectacular celebration of cricket. "

Leading up to this tournament-opener, there's quite a bit of focus on Rachin Ravindra, who hasn't played a game since suffering that freak head injury during the first match of the recent ODI tri-series. Danyal Rasool watched him bat at the nets yesterday, and he looked in good shape, but New Zealand have been cautious about his return, and haven't yet confirmed if he'll start today.

Manu Gill: "The Indian team might not visit Pakistan for the foreseeable future but the Indian audience will visit Pakistan through the medium of TV and this Champions Trophy to see the almost similar culture and passion for cricket in the neighboring country which many of the young Indians have not experienced before, some of us were lucky to see it in 2004."

Manu Gill: "The Indian team might not visit Pakistan for the foreseeable future but the Indian audience will visit Pakistan through the medium of TV and this Champions Trophy to see the almost similar culture and passion for cricket in the neighboring country which many of the young Indians have not experienced before, some of us were lucky to see it in 2004."

The Champions Trophy is back after a gap of 8 years and Pakistan are hosting their first big-ticket tournament since being co-hosts of the 1996 Cricket World Cup. It's been a long wait for a cricket obsessed nation that has been ravaged by internal conflicts. However, cricket has come back to the country in recent times and they've hosted many nations successfully. They also enter the tournament as defending champions, having clinched the title when it was last played in 2017. As hosts, they'll also start the tournament proper with a Group B game against New Zealand, a match they'll probably start as the underdogs. New Zealand have form going into the game with two wins against Pakistan in the recently concluded tri-series, but it's past and both teams will start afresh. They've been rocked with injuries - Lockie Ferguson has been ruled out of the tournament while Rachin Ravindra, who suffered a freak injury on his forehead days ago, could be a non-starter. Pakistan though have been boosted by the return of full fitness for Haris Rauf and that'll make their middle-over bowling attack look menacing. Karachi's National Stadium, one of the three hosting venues that got spruced up ahead of the tournament will play hosts to today's game, one which promises to be full of runs. Toss and team news coming up shortly..

13:15 IST: The Champions Trophy is back after a gap of 8 years and Pakistan are hosting their first big-ticket tournament since being co-hosts of the 1996 Cricket World Cup. It's been a long wait for a cricket obsessed nation that has been ravaged by internal conflicts. However, cricket has come back to the country in recent times and they've hosted many nations successfully. They also enter the tournament as defending champions, having clinched the title when it was last played in 2017. As hosts, they'll also start the tournament proper with a Group B game against New Zealand, a match they'll probably start as the underdogs. New Zealand have form going into the game with two wins against Pakistan in the recently concluded tri-series, but it's past and both teams will start afresh. They've been rocked with injuries - Lockie Ferguson has been ruled out of the tournament while Rachin Ravindra, who suffered a freak injury on his forehead days ago, could be a non-starter. Pakistan though have been boosted by the return of full fitness for Haris Rauf and that'll make their middle-over bowling attack look menacing. Karachi's National Stadium, one of the three hosting venues that got spruced up ahead of the tournament will play hosts to today's game, one which promises to be full of runs. Toss and team news coming up shortly..

What to expect: It's been a high-scoring venue, with the average first innings score of 289. Of the 19 venues that have hosted at least six ODIs since January 2023, it is the second highest scoring venue after Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium. However, there is no distinct advantage for winning the toss. In the last eight games played at the venue, teams batting first and bowling first have won four times each.

While doing his pitch report, Wahab Riaz has suggested that Karachi will be a "batting paradise" today, and he's advised the fast bowlers to be disciplined while sticking to the back-of-a-length area.

Richard A: "Here's hoping none of the Kiwi quicks go down in fa heap during warmups this time. Once again, at the start of a major tournament, Kyle Jamieson is in transit coming to join the team. Deja vu all over again"

Shishank Dahiya: "Most memorable CT moment was when Yuvraj and Zaheer made their debut in the Kenya edition" -- I'm going for Bradshaw and Browne winning it for West Indies in 2004!