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The highly-anticipated ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has finally started as Pakistan are taking on New Zealand in the opening match of the tournament at National Bank Stadium in Karachi. Ahead of the opening clash, New Zealand fans got a major blow as their star player Rachin Ravindra is missing from the playing against Pakistan.
Rachin Ravindra suffered a major injury on his face as he failed to judge the ball while field during the recently ended Tri-Series in Pakistan. Ahead of the match, there where also reports coming that Ravindra might be seen playing in the opening game but after skipper Mitchell Santner announced playing XI after the toss, it was confirmed that Ravindra will be missing the game.
New Zealand to bat first after Pakistan win toss in Champions Trophy opener
Talking about the match, the defending Pakistan won the toss in the opening game of the Champions Trophy against New Zealand. After winning the toss, Pakistani skipper Mohammad Rizwan decided to bowl first which means New Zealand are batting first in the opening game.
Here are the playing XIs for the Champions Trophy 2025 opening match:
Pakistan: 1 Fakhar Zaman, 2 Babar Azam, 3 Saud Shakeel, 4 Mohammad Rizwan (capt & wk), 5 Salman Ali Agha, 6 Tayyab Tahir, 7 Khushdil Shah, 8 Shaheen Shah Afridi, 9 Naseem Shah, 10 Haris Rauf, 11 Abrar Ahmed.
New Zealand: 1 Will Young, 2 Devon Conway, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Daryl Mitchell, 5 Tom Latham (wk), 6 Glenn Phillips, 7 Michael Bracewell, 8 Mitchell Santner (capt), 9 Matt Henry, 10 Nathan Smith, 11 Will O'Rourke.
