Accuracy and professionalism are the watchwords in the world of sports journalism. A recent episode involving New Zealand cricketer Rachin Ravindra has again brought to the fore the problem of unverified news being propagated by some sections of the media.

Rumors about Rachin Ravindra's Phone
Recently, certain media channels reported that the phone of Rachin Ravindra had been stolen in Pakistan during the current ICC tournament. The news traveled fast on social media, and there were many fans reacting to it without knowing anything about the same.

But the New Zealand team's media manager soon rubbished these rumors, saying that nothing like this had happened. This is a clear indication that the reports were totally false and based on rumors.

The Indian media’s propaganda continues, they just can’t accept that Pakistan is hosting a major ICC tournament. The news about Rachin Ravindra’s phone is completely false, as confirmed by the New Zealand team’s media manager. If only the Indian media had bothered to verify with… https://t.co/soYUpS3ezC

— Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani) February 21, 2025

Shortage of Fact-Verification in Media
One of the largest issues facing media today is the eagerness to post breaking news of scandal without confirming facts. Here, a confirmation call from the New Zealand cricket team would have ensured that such spurious news would not spread. Rather than concern for facts, some media worked on fabricating unnecessary controversy.

ALSO READ:How to Buy Tickets for IND vs PAK Champions Trophy 2025 Match

Professional journalism demands fact-checking, balanced reporting, and responsible reporting. But most media platforms give more importance to attracting attention and views than truth. Not only does this mislead individuals but also damages the credibility of the media sector.

The much-awaited ICC Champions Trophy 2025 started with the Group A match between the hosts and defending champions Pakistan and New Zealand at the National Stadium in Karachi on Wednesday (February 19). New Zealand started the tournament with a 60-run win. 

After Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan chose to field first, New Zealand scored 320/5 in 50 overs, and the hosts replied with 260 all out. Now, we are going through some key records of the tournament opener. 

ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Key Match Stats of Pakistan vs New Zealand

Will Young and Tom Latham guide New Zealand to big total

• New Zealand batters Will Young and Tom Latham hit centuries. It was the fifth time in ICC Champions Trophy history with two centuries in an innings. 
• Tom Latham (118*) became the third wicketkeeper-batter to record a century in ICC Champions Trophy history. The other two names are Zimbabwean Andy Flower (145 vs India in 2002) and Sri Lankan Kumar Sangakkara (134* vs England in 2013).
• With his 118*, Tom Latham recorded the second highest individual score by a New Zealand batter in ICC Champions Trophy history. The record is 145* by Nathan Astle against the USA at The Oval in the 2004 edition.
• New Zealand scored 320/5 in 50 overs. It was their second highest total in ICC Champions Trophy history. Their record is 347/4 against the USA in the 2004 The Oval match. Meanwhile, New Zealand’s 320/5 was the seventh highest total in ICC Champions Trophy history.
• New Zealand’s 320/5 was the second highest total for a team against the hosts in the ICC Champions Trophy history. The record is 323/8 by England against the hosts South Africa at Centurion during the 2009 edition. 

See Also: New Zealand create ICC Champions Trophy history with twin centuries

Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf had a forgetable outing

• Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf ended with the bowling figures of 10-0-83-2. It was the most runs conceded by a hosts’ bowler in main ICC ODI tournament history (ICC ODI World Cup and ICC Champions Trophy). Previously, English bowler Paul Allott (1/82 against Sri Lanka in the ICC Cricket World Cup 1983), New Zealand bowler Tim Southee (2/82 against West Indies in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015), and English bowler Jake Ball (1/82 against Bangladesh in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017) jointly held the record.
• With his 2 for 83 runs bowling figures, Haris Rauf recorded the second most expensive bowling figures by a Pakistan bowler (Wahab Riaz 8.4-0-87-0 vs India in 2017) and the joint fourth most expensive bowling figures among the overall bowlers in ICC Champions Trophy history. 

Pakistan very slow start

• With 22/2, Pakistan recorded their lowest-ever first 10 overs score in a home ODI.

Khushdil Shah broke Champions Trophy record against New Zealand

• Pakistan batter Khushdil Shah completed his 50 runs in 38 balls. It was the fastest half-century record against New Zealand in ICC Champions Trophy history. English legend Alastair Cook was the previous record holder with a 39-ball fifty during the 2013 edition. 

Pakistan suffered a record defeat

• Pakistan lost the match by 60 runs. It was the largest defeat (by runs) for the hosts in ICC Champions Trophy history. The previous record was South Africa losing by 55 runs against Sri Lanka during the 2009 edition.
• New Zealand have won all their four matches against Pakistan in ICC Champions Trophy history. 

Pakistan has not had an easy time against New Zealand in the past ten days, losing three successive matches in crucial games. The Kiwis have been in great shape, dominating Pakistan in every department. Here's a brief rundown of how events went:

Pakistan in the last 10 days against New Zealand:

8th Feb - NZ beat PAK in Tri series.

14th Feb - NZ beat PAK in Tri series Final.

19th Feb - NZ beat PAK in Champions Trophy.

- THE DOMINATION OF NEW ZEALAND..!!!! pic.twitter.com/C7MB5fuI0B

— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) February 19, 2025

ALSO SEE: Pat Cummins Withdraws from MLC 2025 Due to Workload and Injury Concerns

February 8, 2025 – Tri-Series Match
The series opened with New Zealand posting a record 331, aided by a fantastic 106* by Glenn Phillips. Pakistan resisted with Fakhar Zaman's 84 but fell short and were bowled out for 252. Black Caps are off to a good start.
February 14, 2025 – Tri-Series Final
Pakistan got an opportunity to get their revenge in the final but their batting failed once again, scoring just 242 runs. New Zealand chased it easily, with Tom Latham and Daryl Mitchell guiding them to a five-wicket win.
February 19, 2025 – Champions Trophy Group Match
The biggest stage, but the same outcome. New Zealand maintained their winning streak against Pakistan, claiming another win and showing their dominance.
The Takeaway
Three losses, three games – it has not been a good period for Pakistan. New Zealand, on the other hand, have demonstrated why they are amongst the most consistent sides in world cricket. Pakistan will have to regroup and return stronger in their upcoming games.

New Zealand opener Will Young became the first batter to hit a century in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. While the Blackcaps were struggling after falling the first three wickets, Young had a huge role in shaping the innings toward the challenging first innings total. Later, Tom Latham also scored a brilliant century which put New Zealand on a special record table in the ICC Champions Trophy history. 

New Zealand were sent to bat first by the hosts and defending champions Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opener at Karachi. Although the opener Will Young provided a good start in the powerplay, the Blackcaps lost three wickets and were under pressure at 73/3.

ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Will Young recorded the first century; Tom Latham joined him later

In the tough batting surface, where the ball wasn't coming nicely to the bat, Will Young and Tom Latham batted brilliantly to set up the Kiwis to dominate the second half of the innings. Young scored the first century of the tournament, which he completed in 107 balls. Young and Tom Latham had a 118-run partnership for the fourth wicket, while Tom Latham also completed a valuable hundred off 95 balls. 

While the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 first centurion Young scored 107 runs from 113 balls (12 fours and one six), Latham scored 118 not out off 104 balls (10 fours and three sixes). Also, Glenn Phillips scored valuable 61 from 39 balls (three fours and four sixes), which guided the Kiwis to score 320/5 in 50 overs.

With twin centuries in the tournament opener, New Zealand proudly entered to a rare special record book of the tournament. It was the fifth time in the ICC Champions Trophy history where two batters scored centuries in an innings. However, New Zealand entered for the first time in this special list.

Also Watch: Glenn Phillips takes stunner to dismiss in-form Mohammad Rizwan

Twin centuries in an innings in the ICC Champions Trophy

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 started in a very unique way at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi. Before the opening match, there was an air show to encourage the fans and to start the competition. Fans who were having a great time watching the show, some of the New Zealand players reacted in a funny way they hid under the tables when the air show was going on.

New Zealand players and fans got scared after hearing the sound of the Air show in Karachi. ✈️😂#PAKVNZ #ChampionsTrophy pic.twitter.com/8wBNClPKc6

— CricXtasy (@CricXtasy) February 19, 2025

On the grandstand of the ICC Champions Trophy, the airplanes showed a great sight that could not be missed. However, the sun is heavy and Devon Conway kneels and tries to protect himself. His teammates seemed not to realize what was going on at first. When they did, they, as well, laughed it off. But as it turned out, the fans in Karachi weren't paying attention to the show but rather to the hilarious reactions of the players.  After that, this topic became a hot topic in the social media.

ALSO READ: Watch: Pakistan get major blow in first over of ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Convey Reaction says everything 😭

The players thought it was bombs being thrown.#ChampionsTrophypic.twitter.com/DHFODtUdty

— 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐲𝐚𝟏𝟕 🦁 (@AgastyaCult) February 19, 2025

Even before New Zealand's innings could start, the funny incident took place, due to Pakistani captain Mohammad Rizwan electing to field first after winning the toss. Although the airshow had been planned to grandly greet the team, it ended up with hilarious reactions from the players. Cricket lovers burst into laughter as soon as we saw the players' reactions. Someone cracked a joke, "They had a moment where they thought something else was happening!". This is just the beginning of the Champions Trophy, but this comic interlude has already made the tournament more effective.

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is about to start, and the match today is a thrilling encounter between Pakistan and New Zealand. The match will be played at the National Stadium in Karachi and is all set to begin at 2:30 PM IST (Indian Standard Time). Cricket enthusiasts around the globe are waiting for the live match to be viewed through different TV channels and online streaming websites.

• Match : NZ VS PAK
• Date: February 19th, 2025
• Time:  2:30 PM IST
• Venue: Karachi

LIVE STREAMING DETAILS

ALSO READ: PAK vs NZ Today Match Prediction – Who Will Win? | Match 01, ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Preview & Analysis

NEW ZEALAND

Rachin Ravindra/ Will Young, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Will O Rourke, Matt Henry

PAKISTAN

Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Khusdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed 

One of the most famous ODI (ODI) cricket competitions is the ICC Champions Trophy,Initially played in 1998 with the top cricket teams from around the globe. The tournament is renowned for fast matches and some excellent cricket.

Champions Trophy?

The ICC Champions Trophy is a global tournament of cricket administered by the International Cricket Council (ICC). Contrary to the ICC Cricket World Cup, where there are more teams and more extended format, the Champions Trophy is a compact tournament with merely the top-rated teams. It is sometimes nicknamed the "mini World Cup" due to the intense nature of its matches.

List of all the winners

ALSO READ:PAK vs NZ Champions Trophy Live Streaming: Where & How to Watch the Match Online & on TV

Memorable Moments in Champions Trophy History

• South Africa 1st ICC Trophy - 1998:
  The inaugural ICC Champions Trophy, which took place in Bangladesh in 1998 The tournament saw South Africa claiming their first ICC title.
  
• 2002 THE ONLY JOINT WINNERS
  After the final was rained out twice, India and Sri Lanka were declared joint winners of the tournament. The ICC game that shares a championship.
• 2006, 2009 -Aus the monopoly
  Australia took two in a row from 2006 and 2009 reaffirming their supremacy in ODI cricket
• INDIA Unbeaten 2013 -India
  India was unbeaten in the 2013 tournament and beat England in the final with the Captaincy of MS Dhoni
• Aggarka 2017 - The Historical Win Of Pakistan
  In the 2017 final held at wankley, Pakistan stunned cricketing world to beat India and it was their first ICC champions trophy.

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will start on February 19, 2025. Fans of cricket all over the globe are looking forward to seeing their favorite teams face each other in this elite competition. The event will host major cricketing nations, which will ensure exciting games and heated rivalries. Live coverage from several platforms will mean that viewers get to enjoy good-quality broadcasts in different languages, making the experience smooth and effortless.

CHAMPIONS TROPHY GROUPS

Group A: Pakistan (hosts), India, New Zealand, Bangladesh

Group B: Australia, England, South Africa, Afghanistan

Notable Things

• Tournament Start Date: February 19, 2025
• India's First Match: February 20, 2025 (India vs Bangladesh)
• India vs Pakistan Clash: February 23, 2025

First match: Pakitan vs New Zeland

LIVE STREAMING DETAILS

ALSO READ:PAK vs NZ Today Match Prediction – Who Will Win? | Match 01, ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Preview & Analysis

India Champions Trophy Squad: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy

•  Coach: Gautam Gambhir
• Best performance: Champions (2002, 2013)

The New Zealand cricket team has given a solid threatening message to every team for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, as the Blackcaps won the ODI tri-series after beating the hosts Pakistan in the Final of the tournament.

In the Final of the ODI tri-series at the National Stadium in Karachi, Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan chose to bat first. While Pakistan scored 242 all out, New Zealand comfortably chased down the target in 45.2 overs after losing five wickets. 

See Also: ICC Champions Trophy 2025 – Predicted Playing XIs for India and Pakistan match

New Zealand bowlers were outstanding

Pakistan didn’t have a good start in the  Final as they only managed to score 54 runs when they lost the first three wickets. The previous-match heroes, where Pakistan successfully chased down the 353-run target against South Africa to qualify for the Final, skipper Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha had an 88-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

While Rizwan scored 46 runs, Agha scored 45 runs. Tayyab Tahir fought hard with 38 runs, while Faheem Ashraf (22) and Naseem Shah (19) had some useful contributions in the lower order.

Among the New Zealand bowlers, Will O’Rourke bagged four wickets (4/43), while Michael Bracewell (2/38) and captain Mitchell Santner (2/20) got two wickets each. Skipper Santner was incredible with the ball as his bowling figures were 10-1-20-2.

New Zealand batting showed the value of teamwork

At chasing, although the opener Will Young (5) was dismissed in the second over, all other batters made crucial contributions to chase the target comfortably. Opener Devon Conway scored 48 runs, while the former skipper Kane Williamson scored 34 runs. Daryl Mitchell (57) and Tom Latham (56) then produced valuable 50s, while Glenn Phillips (20*) and Michael Bracewell (2*) did the finishing job successfully.

Among the Pakistan bowlers, only Naseem Shah managed to pick up more than one wicket as his bowling figures were 8-0-43-2. 

New Zealand won all three matches of the successful ODI tri-series, including beating the hosts Pakistan twice. While Will O’Rourke won the Player of the Match award in the tournament Final, where Blackcaps lifted the trophy, Pakistan cricketer Salman Agha won the Player of the Series award for scoring 219 runs and picking up one wicket in the tournament. 

New Zealand fast bowler Ben Sears has been excluded from the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 due to a hamstring injury. Jacob Duffy, who is a member of the New Zealand squad for the current tri-series in Pakistan, has been appointed as Sears' cover for the eight-country tournament.

Following a New Zealand Cricket announcement, Sears had suffered left hamstring pain at the first practice session in Karachi. He then had a scan which showed he had a slight tear and required at least two weeks' rehab. In view of this, Sears would only have been ready for New Zealand's last group match against India on March 2, hence the decision to replace him throughout the tournament.

Ben Sears has been ruled out of the Champions Trophy.

- Jacob Duffy has replaced him! pic.twitter.com/y5aemlsRKr

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 14, 2025

New Zealand head coach on a very Disappointment :

New Zealand head coach Gary Stead expressed disappointment over Sears missing out.  “We’re all really feeling for Ben,” said Stead.

ALSO SEE :  ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025: Prize Money, Format & Host Cities

“It’s always tough being ruled out of a major event at such a late stage, and it’s especially tough in Ben’s case, given it would have been his first major ICC event.

“The timeframes for Ben to be fit to play again meant he would likely miss the majority of the group stage, and given the short nature of the tournament, we felt it was appropriate to bring in a player who is fully fit and ready to go.

“Ben is a player with huge potential, and given the short rehabilitation timeframe, we’re sure he’ll be fit and raring to go for the home series against Pakistan back in New Zealand.

Stead added that Duffy is a strong replacement for Sears.

"Jacob showed with his performances in the recent home series against Sri Lanka that he is more than capable at the international level.

 “He’s been part of the squad for the ODI Tri-Series, so he’s fully acclimatised, and he’s got plenty of experience in these conditions and is fit and ready to go.

 “He’s another player who will be experiencing his first senior ICC event, so it will be an exciting few weeks ahead for him.”