Pakistan are a much-changed side since last winning the Champions Trophy but Babar Azam and his side's belief in themselves remains the same.

New Zealand are Pakistan's first opponent in Friday's tournament opener when Babar and his team-mates will start their defence of the same title they won eight years ago.

Babar was a youthful member of that Pakistan squad, scoring 133 runs at an average of 44.3 across his five outings, but comes into this edition as one of the world's best batters.

The 30-year-old averages 55.7 in 50-over internationals, amassing 6,017 runs with 19 centuries across his 126 matches.

"I am very excited. We are going to have an ICC tournament in Pakistan after a very long time," said Babar, whose 46 helped Pakistan past India in the 2017 final.

"As a player, I am very excited, and all the fans are excited. My primary memories of the 2017 final are Fakhar Zaman's innings (of 114), the spell of Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali's spell and the winning moment.

"For me, it was a new journey as I was a young player. Playing against India, that excitement and the nervousness was there but when we won, we enjoyed and celebrated.

"A lot has changed since the Champions Trophy was held in 2017. We have new players coming, we only have three or four players who were part of that winning team.

"But the belief, confidence and execution is the same."

Well deserved

Pakistan stars rock their ICC Men's Team of the Year 2024 caps

1. Babar Azam (ICC Men's T20I Team of the Year)
2. Shaheen Afridi (ICC Men's ODI Team of the Year)
3. Haris Rauf (ICC Men's ODI Team of the Year) #ICCAwards pic.twitter.com/IWBiiemOCs

— ICC (@ICC) February 18, 2025

Two batting titans will clash on Friday in Karachi, with Babar waiting in the Pakistan wings and New Zealand boasting the ever-reliant Kane Williamson.

He has averaged 82.9 runs across the last three global ICC ODI events (2019 and 2023 World Cups, 2017 Champions Trophy) – the highest of any player to have scored at least 100 runs at those tournaments.

However, Babar remains the number-one ranked man in the 50-over format, and with that tag comes added expectation.

"When you have responsibility as a senior player in any team and the team relies on you and has belief in you, then I take it in a positive way," he added.

"I try to give my best in every match. I try to perform so that Pakistan win and I enjoy my cricket."

Pakistan have been knocked out in the group stage at the last two World Cups, though they will have home support as the co-hosts this time around.

Babar believes the home crowd could be vital, though only Sri Lanka have ever won the tournament when hosting, albeit they were crowned as co-champions with India in 2002.

"There is no pressure of anything," he said. "What has happened in the past is beyond us. We have discussed mistakes we have made and we have worked on them. So we will try not to do what we have done in the past.”

"When you play at home you get that edge as you know the conditions. You have a knowledge of how the pitch will behave, but still you have to play good cricket because all other teams are among the best.

"It means a lot to be hosting the competition. The hospitality here in Pakistan is great and people love cricket here.

"Cricket puts everyone in one place. It unites everyone and the whole of Pakistan is busy praying that Pakistan wins. Everyone is united in that."