One day before the hosts begin the tournament against New Zealand, Pakistan captain Muhammad Rizwan declared on Tuesday that the Champions Trophy would be a “historic occasion” for the nation.
The Champions Trophy, which is considered to be second only to the World Cup in one-day cricket, is the first big event to be hosted by Pakistan in almost thirty years.
On the eve of the tournament, which runs till March 9, Rizwan said at a press conference, “I think the whole nation should enjoy this historic occasion because a global event has come to Pakistan after 29 years.”
Pakistan was supposed to host the event in 2008, but a security situation that resulted from bloodshed from the protracted conflict forced the country to become isolated from cricket.
