With barely two weeks left for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 to kick off, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said that the hosting nation's real task is not just winning the trophy but also defeating archrivals India in Dubai on February 23.

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.

"We have a strong team, and they've been performing well, but the real challenge now is not only to secure the Champions Trophy but also to defeat our arch-rivals, India, in the crucial match in Dubai. The entire nation stands firmly behind them," PTI quoted Sharif as saying.
 
The rivalry between Pakistan and India in cricket is well-documented, with India generally having the upper hand in ICC tournaments since the 1990s. The last time Pakistan triumphed over India in an ICC event was in 2021 during the T20 World Cup, when they won in Dubai.

The February 23 match carries added significance due to India's refusal to send their team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy and the ongoing tensions between the two cricket boards, making this encounter even more intense.

 Pakistan will enter the tournament as defending champions, having won the Champions Trophy in 2017, when the tournament was held in England.

"This is a historic occasion for Pakistan as we host a major ICC event after nearly 29 years," Sharif said, expressing his excitement about the country's return to hosting such a prestigious tournament.
  
The Prime Minister also expressed pride in the newly upgraded Gaddafi Stadium, highlighting how the renovations reflect Pakistan's love and passion for cricket. He expressed full confidence that Pakistan's team will continue to make the nation proud in the upcoming Champions Trophy.