The Pakistan vs New Zealand Champions Trophy 2025 clash officially ended Pakistan’s 29-year-long wait to host an ICC event. It was Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan who won the toss and opted to bowl first at Karachi’s National Stadium on Wednesday. As the two teams returned from their respective dressing rooms to kick off their maiden battle in the tournament, the Pakistan Air Force produced an air show, marking the start of the prestigious ICC Champions Trophy. 

New Zealand opening duo of Will Young and Devon Conway prepared to take charge in the middle as planes flew over their heads. Some players even seemed to have gotten scared as the air show began.

New Zealand players and the Pakistani crowd reacting to the breathtaking Air Force display during the opening match of the Champions Trophy 2025 #ChampionsTrophy2025#PakvsNZ

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— Mursaleen wafai (@MursaleenWafai) February 19, 2025

The PAF air show was scheduled by the Pakistan Cricket Board as part of the opening ceremony, which was conducted over multiple days in different venues. 

Magnificent air show by Pakistan Air Force at National Bank Stadium Karachi. pic.twitter.com/iHYhzFtnbc

— (@CallMeSheri1) February 19, 2025

Pakistan Air Force show at National Bank Stadium, Karachi.pic.twitter.com/I8AqTBtAFw

— junaiz (@dhillow_) February 19, 2025

PAF jets doing the air show ahead of the Champions Trophy opener. pic.twitter.com/sNNAFA30OC

— Salman (@SalmanAsif2007) February 19, 2025

Pakistan brought in Haris Rauf for this match after the express pacer recovered from injury in time for the opening match. On the other hand, the Kiwis included Matt Henry in their line-up. Both teams are placed in Group A along with India and Bangladesh

“We will bowl first. Seen the last couple of matches dew comes in later, so want to maximise on that. We are the defending champions so will be in a bit more pressure, but we will treat it like the previous tri-series. Playing in Pakistan will be great as well. Haris Rauf is fit again, so he’s back in,” Rizwan said after winning the toss.

New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner said that the dew will come into play later which does make their task difficult.

“The dew gets on later, but we have a job to do with the bat. Looks like a good wicket. We have a good mix of experience and new faces, and are playing some good cricket as well. We have been lucky to play these guys home and away, so we know each other well. What’s most important is getting used to the conditions here in Karachi. The injuries we’ve had are unfortunate, but are confident with the boys that we have out here. Matt Henry comes back in for us,” Santner said.

No Indian flag at Champions Trophy venue in Pakistan© X (Twitter)

The Pakistan Cricket Board, on Tuesday, inaugurated the renovated National Stadium, one of the three venues in the country that will host the Champions Trophy, taking the opportunity to reward the 700 workers who toiled day and night to complete the project. In a video that has gone viral on social media, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi decided to throw a feast for the workers. In the video, the workers could be seen enjoying food provided by the Pakistan board. Naqvi himself also decided to dine with the workers to celebrate the moment. 

Update: PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi arranged dinner for 700+ workers at National Stadium Karachi. He also hosted 2000+ workers at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore earlier. What a chairman pic.twitter.com/YSMKaCg41a

— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) February 11, 2025

The stadium will host the inaugural Champions Trophy match between New Zealand and Pakistan on February 19.

PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi acknowledged the efforts of the workers, including labourers, technicians, engineers and loaders, saying without their persistence it would not have been possible to complete the upgradation on time.

The stadium will also host the South Africa versus Pakistan tri-series match on Wednesday and the final on February 14.

The stadium, which was under renovation for the last four months, has a brand new state-of-the-art building at the far end of the historical venue. Besides, new LED lights, two screens and better facilities for spectators have also been put in place.

The new building houses dressing rooms, dedicated areas for broadcasters and match officials and hospitality boxes.

The stadium, however, retains its old look and the placement of the bigger screen on the ground will block the view of the people sitting in the enclosure.

The project manager, Mohsin Chohan conceded that the new screen will have to be moved to another spot after the tournament.

The PCB had initially budgeted Pakistan Rupees four billion on the renovation of the National Stadium but they appear to have overrun the cost with some work still remaining to be done after the Champions Trophy.

With PTI Inputs

Renovation work at National stadium in Karachi© X (Twitter)

Amidst fears that the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 may not be properly hosted by host nation Pakistan due to the existing state of underdeveloped stadiums, Pakistan-based journalist Farid Khan has shared a video showing the work in progress at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Earlier, a report had emerged stating that stadiums in all three cities – Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi – are still under construction, with just over a month till the Champions Trophy gets underway. However, the visual shared by the journalist shows the extent in which work is being done at the Gaddafi Stadium.

The visuals paint a picture that the stadiums are indeed being constructed, almost from scratch. Bricks, ladders, cement and construction tools and vehicles can all be spotted in the video.

As per the social media post by the journalist, more than 250 workers are on-site in order to complete the stadium construction before the given deadline of January 25.

Watch: Construction is underway at Pakistan’s Gaddafi Stadium

Update: Gaddafi Stadium’s main building getting ready. Over 250 workers are working day and night to meet the 25th January deadline. The stadium will be inaugurated afterwards. It will host the Champions Trophy final in case India do not qualify

pic.twitter.com/MzYtgMqyjr

— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) January 8, 2025

Following a report by The Times of India, where a source stated the underprepared nature of the Pakistani stadiums, it was said that a “miracle” would be needed from both the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) to pull off the construction work in time.

The Gaddafi stadium was stated to be in particularly bad state.

“The weather is not ideal for construction and finishing work to happen at a rapid pace. At Gadaffi, even the plaster work isn’t completed yet. And most of the time is taken by finishing work because we are talking about dressing rooms etc. They just can’t be random rooms/enclosures for an ICC event. ICC has a checklist which needs to be met. National Stadium (in Karachi) has decided to not completely finish the new enclosure because there is no time,” the source had said.

THE NEW CAPACITY OF GADDAFI STADIUM IN LAHORE IS 35,000

480 LED lights have been installed, two giant digital replay screens will be installed next week. A new players and officials hospitality enclosure will also be functional in the last week of January pic.twitter.com/iWkY0akjBs

— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) January 8, 2025

Update: 350 LED lights have been installed at National Stadium in Karachi. 5000 new chairs have been installed for spectators. Two digital screens and a new hospitality enclosure for players and officials

Congratulations to everyone in Karachi. Massive upgrade pic.twitter.com/djIRMr8hKa

— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) January 8, 2025

Update: 10,000 new chairs will be installed at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Two digital replay screens will be installed. Hospitality boxes will be upgraded

Bangladesh vs New Zealand will be the first Champions Trophy match here on February 24 pic.twitter.com/cw61TEndyx

— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) January 8, 2025

Meanwhile, in light of the situation, the PCB responded by shifting the venues of Pakistan’s upcoming tri-series against South Africa and New Zealand.

While the majority of the tournament will be played in Pakistan, all of Team India’s matches, as well as the semi-final and the final, will be played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). However, if India do not qualify for the final, the Gaddafi Stadium will host the summit clash.

File image of National Stadium Karachi© X (Twitter)