KARACHI: Defending champions Pakistan won the toss and decided to field against New Zealand shortly before the ninth edition of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 commenced at the National Stadium in Karachi on Wednesday.

The eight-team tournament will be played across three venues in Pakistan – Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi – as well as in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), from 19 February to 9 March.

Pakistan is hosting an ICC event for the first time since the ICC Cricket World Cup 1996, which concluded with the final at the Qaddafi Stadium, where Sri Lanka defeated Australia by seven wickets.

“We want to go to bowl first because we have seen since the last couple of matches that dew comes in the end,” Pakistan skipper Mohammad Rizwan said after winning the toss.

“If we think as defending champions, it will put us under a little bit more pressure,” he continued, responding to the question about how he felt to be back in the tournament won by his team. “We want to keep it simple. We just played a tri-series against these guys … This is a big tournament, and playing in Pakistan is a proud moment for us as well.”

Pakistan enter the championship as the defending champions, having beaten India in the final of the 2017 edition, led by Sarfaraz Ahmed. Fakhar Zaman was the player of the final for his imperious 114 off 106 deliveries, while Hasan Ali was named the player of the tournament for his tally of 13 wickets in five games.

In the lead-up to the ICC Champions Trophy, the three venues in Pakistan – Qaddafi Stadium Lahore, National Stadium Karachi and Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium – have undergone major upgradation, offering players and spectators world-class facilities.

The eight participating teams have been divided into two groups with hosts Pakistan, Bangladesh, India and New Zealand pooled in Group A while Group B comprises Afghanistan, current ODI World Cup champions Australia, England and South Africa.

Following their opening encounter against New Zealand, Pakistan will play their next two group matches on 23 February against India in Dubai and on 27 February against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi.

In the group stage, three matches apiece will be played in Dubai, Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi.

The first semifinal will be played on March 4 in Dubai. The newly-upgraded Qaddafi Stadium in Lahore will host the second semifinal on March 5. If India do not qualify, the final will take place at the Qaddafi Stadium on March 9.

However, if they qualify, it will be held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Apart from winning this tournament in 2017, Pakistan has also reached the semifinals of this competition on three occasions in 2000, 2004 and 2009.