Glenn Phillips warmed up for the Champions Trophy with his first one-day international century as New Zealand beat Pakistan by 78 runs in the opening game of the tri-nation cricket series on Saturday.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the renovated and upgraded Gaddafi stadium on Friday night, Sharif said the players must give their best against India.

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.

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.

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,