'Where Is The Crowd?': Michael Vaughan Surprised By Low Turnout In PAK Vs NZ CT 2025 Opener

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 kicked off in Karachi, Pakistan, with the host nation taking on New Zealand in the tournament's opening match. However, former England captain Michael Vaughan couldn't help but notice the sparse crowd at the National Stadium, taking to social media to express his disappointment.

Vaughan, known for his straightforward and often humorous commentary, tweeted, "Have they forgotten to tell the locals it's on? #CT2025 #PAKvNZ".

The poor attendance at the National Stadium has raised questions about the popularity of international cricket in Pakistan. Despite being a cricket-mad nation, Pakistan has struggled to attract large crowds to international matches in recent years.

Vaughan's comment has sparked a debate about the reasons behind the low attendance. Some have pointed to the high ticket prices, while others have blamed the lack of promotion and marketing for the event.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has come under fire for their handling of the tournament, with some critics accusing them of failing to create sufficient hype around the event.

Pakistan piling up the pressure against New Zealand

The highly anticipated match between Pakistan and New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is currently underway at the National Stadium in Karachi. Pakistan won the toss and chose to bowl first, aiming to restrict New Zealand's batting lineup.

New Zealand's innings got off to a shaky start, with Devon Conway falling to Abrar Ahmed in the 7th over. Kane Williamson, the New Zealand captain, also failed to make a significant impact, scoring just 1 run before being dismissed by Naseem Shah.

Pakistan's bowling attack has been impressive so far, with Abrar Ahmed, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf picking up crucial wickets. The team will be looking to continue applying pressure on the New Zealand batting lineup and restrict them to a low total

At the time of writing, New Zealand's score stands at 73-3, with Will Young batting at 49 off 55 deliveries. Daryl Mitchell has also fallen to Haris Rauf, scoring 10 runs off 24 balls.