Karachi: Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan won the toss and elected to bowl against New Zealand in the opening match of the highly anticipated ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at the National Stadium, Karachi.
For Pakistan, Haris Rauf has been declared fit and returns to the playing XI, while New Zealand has included Matt Henry in their squad. This marks a historic occasion as Pakistan hosts a global cricket event for the first time in 29 years. The defending champions aim to secure their first ICC trophy in eight years.
New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner acknowledged the impact of dew later in the game but emphasized the need to adapt to Karachi’s conditions. Rizwan, on the other hand, highlighted the team’s confidence and approach, treating the match like a tri-series game despite the added pressure of defending the title.
With dry patches and cracks on the pitch, experts predict a target of around 300 would be competitive, with spinners playing a crucial role.
