 "Mohammad Rizwan will be hoping to lead Pakistan to their maiden victory over New Zealand in four Champions Trophy meetings when the two teams lock horns on Wednesday. AP")
Hosts and defending champions Pakistan face 2000 winners New Zealand in the opening game of the ICC Champions Trophy less than 24 hours from now, the eagerly-anticipated match set to kickstart the first global event on Pakistani soil in nearly three decades.
The Champions Trophy, which returns to action after a gap of nearly eight years, will be the first ICC event happening in Pakistan since the 1996 World Cup, which had been co-hosted with India and Sri Lanka and whose final had taken place at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
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Pakistan and New Zealand won’t exactly be strangers heading into the upcoming clash – just had faced off twice this month, during the ODI triangular series in Pakistan in which South Africa was the third team.
The Black Caps had won two out of two against Pakistan in that series, including by five wickets in the final . Pakistan, on the other hand, will be hoping to emerge triumphant in the game that matters on Wednesday.
Here’s everything you need to know about tomorrow’s game:
When and where can I watch the Pakistan vs New Zealand, ICC Champions Trophy Match 1 live?
Match 1 of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy will take place at the National Stadium in Karachi on Wednesday, 19 February starting at 2 pm local time (2.30 pm IST). You can watch the match live on the Star Sports and Sports18 channels, and the match will also be streamed live on the JioHotstar app.
Impact Shorts
View AllWhere will the Pakistan vs New Zealand ICC Champions Trophy match be taking place?
The Pakistan vs New Zealand match will be taking place at the National Stadium in Karachi.
What is the pitch at the venue expected to be like for the Pakistan-New Zealand match?
The pitch at Karachi’s National Stadium is expected to assist pacers early on, and spinners later in the game, but is expected to mainly be a good batting wicket and witness some tall scores early in the tournament.
What will the weather in Karachi be like on the day of the Pakistan vs New Zealand match?
“Mostly cloudy and very warm; breezy in the afternoon,” reads Wednesday’s weather forecast for Karachi. With no rain expected during the day or later in the evening, the match should proceed without a hitch.
What is the head-to-head record between Pakistan and New Zealand like in ODIs?
All ODI matches: 118
Pakistan won: 61
New Zealand won: 53
Tied: 1
No Result: 3
Champions Trophy meetings: 3
Pakistan won: 0
New Zealand won: 3
Tied: 0
No Result: 0