KARACHI, Pakistan

The International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy kicked off in Pakistan’s port city of Karachi on Wednesday, marking the first-ever major sports event in the country after a 29-year hiatus.

Following a flypast by Pakistan Air Force aircraft, President Asif Ali Zardari, along with his daughter Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, inaugurated the event.

Holding the trophy, Zardari, along with Sarfaraz Ahmad, the captain of the Pakistani team that won the last Champions Trophy played in England in 2017, entered the newly renovated National Cricket Stadium in Karachi, heralding the opening of the much-awaited tournament.

Defending champions Pakistan are taking on toned-up New Zealand in the opening match.

Pakistan won the toss and opted to field.

Eight top cricket teams, including India, are participating in the tournament.

India will play all their matches in Dubai as they have refused to come to Pakistan, citing “security concerns.”

Islamabad, however, sees the move as “politically motivated.”

The 1996 men’s 50-over World Cup was the last major ICC event held in Pakistan.

Local stadiums were left deserted since 2009 when seven of the Sri Lankan cricketers were shot and injured by militants in the northeastern city of Lahore. In the same attack, six Pakistani policemen and two civilians were killed.

It took Pakistan six years to persuade the international teams to play in the country, as after losing the hosting rights to the 2009 Champions Trophy, it was also ruled out as co-hosts of the 2011 World Cup.

The hiatus was finally over after Zimbabwe visited Pakistan in May 2015.​​​​​​​