Panic in the Crowd: New Zealand Batter Ducks as Karachi is Gripped by Fear during Pakistan's Champions Trophy Match

The 2025 Champions Trophy in Karachi marks the first ICC tournament to be held in Pakistan in nearly three decades. Following the tragic events of the 2009 Lahore terror attacks, which resulted in the loss of lives and injuries to several Sri Lankan cricketers, cricket in Pakistan was suspended for an extended period. It took six years for cricket to make a comeback in Pakistan, with Zimbabwe being the first team to tour the country for a limited-overs series. During this time, the Men in Green had to make Dubai and Abu Dhabi their temporary homes for international matches.

It took a lot of time before parity was restored. Although India still has reservations, the remaining six teams are in Pakistan to push for ICC glory. Even New Zealand, who abandoned their tour midway in 2021 due to security threats, have been in Pakistan a while, having played the recently concluded tri-series and now contesting in the Champions Trophy. However, no matter how much security has been arranged, the scars of the past continue to linger. Soon after Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan won the toss and opted to bowl, a loud noise caused by fighter jets surprised the New Zealand openers and the Karachi public.

Also Read: Pakistan vs New Zealand Champions Trophy LIVE Score and Updates

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When the Pakistan fighter jets flew over the stadium, the decibel levels were so high that Devon Conway ducked for cover before realising what caused it. As the camera turned towards the fans, a section of the crowd was visibly scared, some covering their ears and others holding their chest. "They all got scared because of the loud noise of the jets," a commentator on Hindi broadcasting duty said.

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What Pakistan has done to enhance security

The Pakistan government has lined up more than 12000 police personnel across Lahore and Rawalpindi to ensure that security on par during the Champions Trophy. The contingent includes 18 senior officers, 54 DSPs, 135 inspectors, 1200 upper subordinates, 10556 constables, and over 200 female police officers. Additionally, nine special charter flights have also been arranged for fans.

The Champions Trophy kicks off with defending champions Pakistan. Who can forget the final of the last edition in 2017, where, despite all odds, the Men in Green, led by Sarfaraz Ahmed, dished out a 180-run hammering to India? Pakistan had comprehensively lost their league fixture to their arch-rivals; hence, when they qualified for the final, no one really gave them a chance against a red-hot Indian team. But on the day when it mattered the most, Pakistan pulled off a… well… Pakistan.

Fakhar Zaman's magnificent century took Pakistan to a huge total of 338, chasing which Team India was bundled out for 158. Mohammad Amir removed the Indian top order of Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli to reduce them to 33/3. Hardik Pandya tried with some belligerent hitting en route to scoring 76 off 43 balls, but it was never going to be enough. Once he was gone, run out after a mix-up with Ravindra Jadeja, it was curtains for India.

ICC Champions Trophy , ICC Champions Trophy Schedule , and Champions Trophy 2025 Points Table – stay ahead with real-time match updates, team standings, and insights. Check live cricket score , player stats, and ICC rankings of top players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli . Get expert analysis, match previews, and in-depth coverage of ICC CT 2025, IPL 2025 Schedule and IPL 2025, all on HT Crickit, powered by Hindustan Times – your trusted source for cricket news along with Pakistan vs New Zealand live Score. .freemium-card h4{color:#fff; padding-bottom:20px;} .freemium-card .freemium-content .subcTxt{padding-bottom:16px; color:#fff;} .freemium-card .freemium-content{width: auto; max-width: inherit;} .freemium-card .freemium-content .subcTxt{max-width:inherit; font-size:18px; padding-top:0; line-height:24px} .freemium-card .btnSubc{margin} .freemium-card .btnSubc a{background:#000; color:#fff; min-width:auto; padding:5px 15px; border-radius:6px; font-size:16px; line-height:22px; font-weight:700;} .freemium-card{height:285px} @media (max-width: 767px) { .freemium-card h4{font-size:28px} .freemium-card .freemium-content{max-width:360px; padding: 20px;} .freemium-card{height:303px; background-position: 100% 0; } }