The Champions Trophy returns with a high-voltage opener between hosts Pakistan and New Zealand, who recently clashed in a tri-series final. Pakistan, aiming to retain their title at home, face challenges with key players' form and fitness.

Starting tomorrow, Pakistan hosts its first major ICC tournament since co-hosting the 1996 World Cup with Sri Lanka and India. The ICC Champions Trophy will mean that a big-ticket event will be hosted by Pakistan after three decades.

Pakistan will host a first major multi-country cricket tournament in nearly three decades next week and its cricket chief is hopeful that a successful Champions Trophy will bring a flood of other such events.