Karachi: All speculations are coming to an end. Pakistan’s long-awaited dream of hosting an ICC tournament after 29 years has finally come true. After hosting the 1986 World Cup, Pakistan is now set to organize the ICC Champions Trophy. On Wednesday, the host nation, Pakistan, will face New Zealand in the opening match. Both teams have previously won the Champions Trophy. This marks the 9th edition of the tournament. In the last edition held in 2017, Pakistan emerged as the champions.
The tournament features eight teams divided into two groups. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semifinals. The highly anticipated match between India and Pakistan is scheduled to take place in Dubai on March 23. The champion team will receive a prize of ₹19.6 crore, while the runner-up will get ₹9.7 crore. The favorites to win the tournament include India, New Zealand, Pakistan, and South Africa. Meanwhile, the reputation of defending champions Australia is under threat, as six key players are missing from their squad.
The opening match of Group ‘A’ between Pakistan and New Zealand will mark the beginning of the Champions Trophy. Pakistan is one of the most unpredictable teams in world cricket. On their day, they can defeat any team, but they are also prone to unexpected losses against weaker teams. Hence, it won’t be surprising if Pakistan either loses all matches or wins the tournament. On the other hand, New Zealand has always performed consistently in ICC tournaments. Since winning the World Test Championship in 2021, they haven’t won any ICC events.
New Zealand has played the most ODI matches (11) in Pakistan among all foreign teams since 2019. Having spent a considerable time playing there, they are well aware of the pitch and conditions. Recently, in a tri-nation series, New Zealand defeated Pakistan twice and emerged as champions. This past performance will have an impact on Wednesday’s match.
New Zealand’s batting lineup is in good form, particularly Kane Williamson, who scored 225 runs in three innings in their recent encounters. Other key batsmen like Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Tom Latham, and Daryl Mitchell are also performing well. In bowling, Mitchell Santner’s spin could be a challenge for Pakistan’s batsmen, while Michael Bracewell was impressive in the tri-series. Pace bowlers Matt Henry and William O’Rourke are also in good rhythm.
For Pakistan, the positive news is that captain Mohammad Rizwan is in form. However, former captain Babar Azam’s performance will be crucial for Pakistan’s success, as he hasn’t scored a century in his last 21 ODI innings. Playing at home, Pakistan will put all efforts into defending their title. If Haris Rauf plays, Pakistan’s bowling attack will become stronger.
There is uncertainty over whether Rachin Ravindra will play due to an injury, and if he doesn’t, Will Young will open the innings for New Zealand. The Kiwis have a deep batting lineup up to No. 8, and eight of their players can bowl.
For Pakistan, Tayyab Tahir and Khushdil Shah are talented spin-bowling all-rounders, while Salman Agha is in good batting form. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah’s pace bowling will be crucial. The Karachi pitch is expected to be high-scoring.
In the history of the Champions Trophy, New Zealand and Pakistan have faced each other three times, with New Zealand winning on all occasions.
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