The host nation - and defending champions - will undoubtedly be one of the most fascinating stories of the tournament.

A powerhouse of international cricket, Pakistan is looking to overcome considerable adversity.

Not only must they deal with the added stress of being tournament hosts, but Pakistan is weathering recent coaching instability, with Aqib Javed in charge in an interim capacity until after the Champions Trophy.

Can captain Mohammad Rizwan and his side overcome the intense scrutiny that will follow their campaign?

PLAYER TO WATCH: BABAR AZAM

Superstar Babar Azam is the ICC's top-ranked Men's ODI batter (795 rating points), sitting firmly above Indian duo Shubman Gill (2nd) and Rohit Sharma (3rd).

The 30-year-old scored back-to-back fifties in South Africa to finish off 2024 and he'll need to keep that form rolling if Pakistan are to make a dent in their home tournament.

This is the team's first 50-over ICC tournament since Babar stepped down from the captaincy at the conclusion of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup in 2023. He'll be locked in from the first ball to make sure he leads with his actions at the crease.

Pakistan squad: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi

Group Stage Fixtures:
19 February - Pakistan vs New Zealand, Karachi
23 February - Pakistan vs India, Dubai
27 February - Pakistan vs Bangladesh, Rawalpindi