The elite one-day international (ODI) tournament’s last winners, Pakistan, are playing host to their first ICC event since the 50-over World Cup in 1996. The world’s top eight men’s teams will compete in the 19-day tournament (February 19 until March 9), which will also see archrivals Pakistan and India face-off in the group stage.

Bitter rivals India and Pakistan rarely play each other on the cricket field, but when they do there is an unparalleled thirst for tickets.

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.