The Champions Trophy 2025 is a milestone tournament for Pakistan Cricket with the nation that is organizing a large ICC tournament for the first time in almost three decades. However, the first impression may not be the goal, with one noticeable thing during the opening match between Pakistan and Nieuw -Zeeland. Grand) at the National Stadium in Karachi looked considerably empty, with many stands not even half full at the start of the game. Former England captain Michael Vaughan also pointed out here.
“Great to see that the Champions trophy is being played in Pakistan. First major event since 1996. Have they forgotten to tell the locals that it is? Where is the crowd?” Vaughan posted on X.
Great to see that the Champions trophy is being played in Pakistan .. First major event since 1996 .. have they forgotten to tell the locals that it is … Where is the crowd? #Championstrophy2025
– Michael Vaughan (@michaelvaughan) February 19, 2025
The need for Pakistan to make a good impression has increased further due to the delay with which the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was confronted with the completion of the stadium renovations.
All three stadiums for the Champions trophy – the National Stadium in Karachi, the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore and the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium – were completely renovated by less than two weeks until the start of the tournament.
Fans do not show up before the start of the very first competition of hosts Pakistan, who are also the defending champion, paint a unideal image for them.
More than half of the stadium is also empty in Karachi that also when home team plays.
Is it even worthwhile to give Pakistan such a big tournament? #Pakvsnz pic.twitter.com/oesqpoo0x
– Ctrl CTRL Memes (@ctrlmemes_) February 19, 2025
Pakistan vs Nieuw -Zeeland: Champions Trophy 2025
For the third time in 11 days, Pakistan recorded New Zealand in an ODI, after he had lost them twice during the recently closed Tri-Nations series that also contained South Africa.
Pakistani captain Mohammad Rizwan won the pitch and chose the field, but Pakistan suffered a huge blow to the only second ball of the game.
Star fittings Fakhar Zaman – who had hit a sensational century when Pakistan defeated India in the 2017 Champions Trophy Final – was injured to put a border in depth.
Pakistan is already confronted with problems with their opening combination after the injury of Saim Ayub, and Fakhar Zaman who may be excluded, would further compile their misery.
For New -Zeeland, the opener Will Young will be in the stars. Young hit an excellent 107 out of 113 balls and raised the first century of the Champions Trophy 2025.
Young adorned his innings with 12 four and a six, and was skilled by test captain and Wicket keeper Slagman Tom Latham.
Young was finally rejected after an excellent catch by replacement fellow player Fahraf Ashraf.
Pakistan and Nieuw -Zeeland will also be confronted with India and Bangladesh in the group stage, in which the matches against India take place in Dubai.
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