Pouya Rahmani proud to represent UAE in upcoming PFL World Tournament

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is set to open the Champions Trophy 2025 in Karachi on Wednesday, marking the return of a major international cricket tournament to the country after nearly three decades, with analysts saying will not only revive Pakistan’s cricketing glory but also contribute to the country’s investment, tourism landscape and international image.
The elite one-day international tournament, which features the game’s top eight sides in the format, begins with the hosts facing off New Zealand in the southern port city of Karachi. This is the first major global tournament hosted by Pakistan in nearly 30 years and analysts and former cricketers say there is no escaping the excitement in the event.
Cricket teams abandoned Pakistan after an attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team outside Lahore’s Qaddafi Stadium on Mar. 3, 2009, forcing the cricket-mad South Asian nation into wilderness for several years. It took the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) several years to convince its counterparts that it was safe to travel to the South Asian country.
While Zimbabwe was the first international team to visit Pakistan in May 2015, former PCB chairman Najam Sethi says the success of Pakistan Super League (PSL) since its launch in 2016 boosted the confidence of foreign players in Pakistan, hailing the 50-over Champions Trophy as the culmination of Pakistan’s efforts to reintegrate into the global cricketing fraternity and promote new talent.
“The successful launch of PSL nearly 10 years ago was a game-changer. It enabled international cricket to return to Pakistan, and the Champions Trophy tournament is the icing on the cake,” he told Arab News.

“It will unleash the passion of tens of millions of Pakistanis and motivate a new generation of cricket fans to excel in the game by watching the best players in the world play their craft. I predict a wave of new talent will erupt in Pakistan in the wake of the [tournament]!“
Mirza Iqbal Baig, a sports journalist, recalled how the attack on the Sri Lankan team had disappointed cricket fans in the country, but described the Champions Trophy as a “milestone” for Pakistan cricket.
“Now all international teams, especially England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, who have a lot of security concerns, but they all have come and I think this will boost Pakistan cricket,” he told Arab News.
“Pakistani cricket fans will see international cricket stars playing before them in their home grounds, and there will be competition too. I think the hosting of Champions Trophy will prove to be a milestone for Pakistan cricket.”
Asked about its socio-economic impact on Pakistan, Baig said it will definitely send out a positive image of the country with regard to investment and tourism.
Sethi echoed the sentiment: “The matches will be seen by over a billion people. There can be no better projection of Pakistan’s soft power and budding prestige.”
The Champions Trophy 2025, being staged after a hiatus of eight years, is the first major ICC tournament in Pakistan since the South Asian country co-hosted the 1996 World Cup with Sri Lanka and India.
While all teams agreed to play in Pakistan, India refused to travel to the host country and will play its matches in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
“It is sad that sum-zero diplomacy remains a hurdle in cricketing ties between India and Pakistan,” Sethi remarked. “But I firmly believe that this hybrid model is a precursor to full blown bilateral cricketing relations sooner than later.”
Baig said Pakistan had “opened its arms” for everyone, but the Narendra Modi-led government had been using cricket as “political tool.”
“But anyway, the tournament is being played. People were saying that India would ask other teams to not visit Pakistan, but the rest of the teams have arrived,” he said.
“India will regret later why they did not play in Pakistan.”

LONDON: Lewis Hamilton said he felt “invigorated” and “full of life” following a move to Ferrari as his new car was unveiled in front of some 15,000 raucous fans during the 2025 Formula One season launch at London’s O2 Arena on Tuesday.

Seven-times world champion Hamilton has left Mercedes after 12 seasons to join the Italian giants for the upcoming campaign that starts with next month’s Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

Ferrari have been ever present throughout Formula One’s 75-year history and the prospect of winning a record eighth drivers’ championship with the ‘Scuderia’ has clearly proved enticing for 40-year-old British motorsport great Hamilton.

“The word I am thinking of is invigorated because I feel so full of life and so much energy because everything is new and I’m just focused on what is up ahead,” said Hamilton in a brief on-stage interview — Ferrari are holding a press conference at their Maranello headquarters on Wednesday.

“I’m so proud to be part of the team, something new and exciting for me,” he added following his first public appearance in Ferrari’s traditional red racing colors.

His words echoed those of reigning world champion Max Verstappen, who earlier Tuesday told reporters his old rival could be “reborn” at Ferrari where he will join Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc.

Hamilton ended his more than two-year wait for a win with victory on home soil at the British Grand Prix in July.

Yet he still finished a mammoth 214 points behind Verstappen in the drivers’ standings as his time at Mercedes — where he won six titles — came to a disappointing end.

But Verstappen, bidding to equal Michael Schumacher’s record of five successive drivers’ championships, said joining Ferrari could be the change Hamilton needs.

“It will provide him with a different scenery, a new motivation,” said Verstappen. “And when you have been with a team for a long time, have won a lot and then had a few tough seasons, maybe your motivation is different.

“Now it is almost like he is reborn.

“We all know how good Lewis is and we all know how good Charles is. Ferrari have two great drivers. It is going to be exciting for the sport, but it will also depend on how good the car is.”

Hamilton joins a Ferrari team narrowly pipped to the constructors’ championship by McLaren last year.

“I am definitely anticipating Lewis being a championship contender,” said McLaren chief executive Zak Brown. “We and Ferrari ended last year with nothing between us and I think that will continue.”

Hamilton will have his first serious drive of his new car during next week’s lone winter testing session in Bahrain, with Ferrari aiming for their first championship in nearly two decades.

“If Lewis gets off to a good start and he gets the team around him, he will find his confidence and he could be a real contender for this world championship,” said Christian Horner, the principal of Verstappen’s Red Bull team.

Horner added: “But if he doesn’t get off to a good start, it will inevitably be harder for him.”

Tuesday’s glitzy event saw all 10 Grand Prix teams launch their new cars at the same venue, the first time this has happened in Formula One history.

“It’s difficult to get most teams to agree what day of the week it is,” said Horner. “So, to get all 10 teams here launching their cars tonight, it’s been a big effort.”

“It’s a show very much for the fans,” he added, with the launch presented by British comedian Jack Whitehall and also featuring US rapper Machine Gun Kelly before finishing with a performance by 1990s UK pop band Take That.