Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has challenged Pakistan’s cricket team to not only aim for the ICC Champions Trophy but also to defeat India on February 23 in Dubai. The revamped Gaddafi Stadium was unveiled at a grand event.

Shehbaz Sharif’s comment on the upcoming India vs. Pakistan Champions Trophy clash has sparked a debate. Sharif’s remark raises question about the team’s priorities ahead of the ICC tournament. Pakistan and India will face each other in the group-stage on 23 February.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasizes that while winning the Champions Trophy is important, the real challenge lies in defeating arch-rivals India in their upcoming clash during the tournament.

Pakistan and India have a history of cricket rivalry and generally the Indian team has held the advantage in ICC events since the 90s. Pakistan's last win in an ICC event against India came in 2021 when they won in Dubai in the T20 World Cup.

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi says the selection committee 'will review' the national squad picked for the Champions Trophy even as he defended the controversial selections of batter Khushdil Shah and all-rounder Faheem Ashraf.

Pakistan will showcase its newly upgraded stadium at Lahore when it takes on New Zealand in the opening game Saturday of a tri-series cricket tournament, which also involves an understrength South Africa.

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is set to begin on February 19, with Pakistan as the official host. However, Team India will play all its matches in Dubai.

Pakistan opened a renovated stadium for the Champions Trophy in Lahore on Friday, one of three to be used in its first major international cricket event in almost 30 years. The eight-team Champions Trophy will be staged from February 19 to March 9 in Lahore,

The second edition of The Deck’s previews for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 sees the Indian team under the spotlight. They will join Bangladesh, New Zealand and Pakistan in group A for the tournament,