Pakistan begins title defense of the Champions Trophy against New Zealand in Karachi.

The long-awaited ICC Champions Trophy 2025 finally began its journey with two-time-winner Pakistan facing New Zealand in their opening match of the tournament at the National Stadium, Karachi. This refined contest between two sides is the curtain raising for a brutal war as Pakistan will attempt to hold onto their title in front of their national supporters, while the Black Caps will attempt to make a strong start towards winning the same trophy.

A Defining Tournament for Pakistan

Every year since 1996 Pakistan has been hosting an ICC tournament, and soon the country will be joining the eight-team tournament with high hopes. Cricket insomniac nation holds its collective nervous sighs for their team to win back the much coveted crown that they had in 2017, under the leadership of Sarfaraz Ahmed for Team Pakistan. It was a historic achievement when Pakistan defeated their bitter rivals, India, with a clinical finish in the later stages of the game to be engraved in the annals. They believe in the same, because now Mohammad Rizwan is in charge, and they want to maximize their advantage over the home conditions. Drama in the Early Stages on the Field

New Zealand's opening pair, Devon Conway and Will Young (two of their opening pair for the game) were left in a formidable position to start batting.

[They] set the hosts's easy rythm for their innings, and recover in a fine fashion. For Pakistan, they provided them the very first shock in the shape of injury which saw Fakhar Zaman retire hurt after attempting an outstretched catch at a deep ball. He is the hosts' baddie at and whenever in top fit. Toss and Team Line-ups

Pakistan decided to defend after the toss with the purpose of taking first stabs at the wickets and piling pressure on Black Caps. The XI of both teams reveals the old player players and new player players.

Pakistan Playing XI-Pakistan Playing XI-

Fakhar Zaman

Babar Azam

Saud Shakeel

Mohammad Rizwan (c & wk)

Salman Agha

Tayyab Tahir

Khushdil Shah

Shaheen Afridi

Naseem Shah

Haris Rauf

Abrar Ahmed

New Zealand Playing XI-New Zealand Playing XI-

Devon Conway

Will Young

Kane Williamson

Daryl Mitchell

Tom Latham (wk)

Glenn Phillips

Michael Bracewell

Mitchell Santner (c)

Nathan Smith

Matt Henry

William O'Rourke

New Zealand's Recent Supremacy Over Pakistan

The two teams had last met each other at this same venue in the Tri-Nation Series final, in which New Zealand had whitewashed the host team and also went undefeated in front of South Africa and Pakistan. It certainly has restored to the Black Caps, confidence, that they certainly needed on the eve of the Champions Trophy, and, did not look like it could be beaten in the first match.

Pakistan's Hopes and Challenges

Having taken the last one, Pakistan will need to play at their last best and withstand the pressure of hosting an ICC event almost for three decades.

With an imposing unit and the finest cricketers in the form of Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Mohammad Rizwan, the team can prove to be mountainous task. However, New Zealand's quality bowling attack and well-tested batting line-up will put the test to the muscles of will. A Thrilling Tournament

ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will be a cracker tournament since the best of the teams in the world are faced against each other with an eye to laying their claim on the legendary trophy. The Pakistan-New Zealand clash is, of course, only the first part of what has the makings of a journey far from gentle, with more than enough full-on brawls and war-of-intelligences-tacks page-turners, and a few instances of dolorous action.

Just like in the other tournaments, cricket fans all over the world will hold their breath and hope to witness whether Pakistan remains as on top of its game, or give the crown to a new contender to achieve the same. It trapped both of its eggs in the same basket [and that by chance, Karachi even put 2 eggs in the same basket], and now it is on fire and cricket will need to have a very bumpy ride.