With only hours remaining before the Champions Trophy 2025 is set to get underway, the hotly anticipated opener will be the clash between Pakistan and New Zealand at the National Stadium in Karachi. Both sides are strong favourites to progress from Group A, also comprising two-time Champions Trophy champions India as well as ever-determined Bangladesh.
Pakistan, hosting the match, will have the support of the crowd behind them, and no player will get louder applause than their ace batter, Babar Azam. The 30-year-old No. 1 ODI batter in the world was a member of Pakistan’s record-breaking 2017 Champions Trophy-winning team. Looking back at that memorable triumph, Babar remembered the performances that made Pakistan win their first title against arch-rivals India.
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“As a cricketer, I am extremely thrilled, and all the fans are thrilled. My first memories of the 2017 final are Fakhar Zaman’s innings (of 114), Mohammad Amir’s spell, Hasan Ali’s spell, and the moment of victory. At that time, I was a young cricketer, going through the thrill and nervousness of playing against India. But when we won, it was all joy and celebration,” Babar Azam said in an ICC media release.
Recognizing the team’s evolution from 2017, Babar Azam pointed to new faces in the team but reinforced that the belief of Pakistan does not change.
“Much has changed since then. We are getting new players, and there are just three or four old players left from that champion side. But belief, confidence, and implementation remain the same,” he continued.
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Pakistan’s last ODI series was a tri-nation series against New Zealand and South Africa. Their last game was a loss to the Blackcaps, which they will be keen to reverse in the tournament opener. With the same rivals in their path, Pakistan will be keen to make an impression and begin their Champions Trophy campaign on a high.
