🏏Champions Trophy: Pakistan vs New Zealand, Match 1, Gr A Karachi🏏

🏏Pakistan vs New Zealand, 1st Match, Group A :: Feb 19, 02:00 PM, Karachi🏏

Cricket has long been Pakistan's most potent expression of nationalism. Despite systemic challenges and internal rifts, an endless conveyor belt of talent continues to fuel the attractiveness of the sport.

Cricket remains Pakistan's most visible global identity, and the PCB was never going to let the chance to host the 2025 Champions Trophy slip away.

The administrators have taken their due, with four recent chiefs of the board squeezing some space for themselves on a front-row couch in a show of unity, to welcome the tournament home.

The stadiums are ready, security clearances are in place, and for now, the frosty relationship with the BCCI is on hold. A wall of fame has been unveiled, past greats have been celebrated and amidst all the loud fanfare of what's turned into a national project, quite ironically, the two most influential figures of Pakistan's cricket history - Imran Khan and Shaiza Khan - have been given a quiet miss.

Nonetheless, finally, after a 29-year wait, Pakistan is set to host its first ICC tournament. The attention, for a few weeks at least, will shift from the off-field shenanigans to the performances of the Mohammad Rizwan-led side.

The captain and coach have managed to hold their positions for over three months, a feat in itself, and the buzz is undeniable. But for a cricket-loving nation, nothing short of a title will suffice. The championship has to be defended.

In that bid, they've made some interesting selection calls ahead of the tournament, and tested it against South Africa and New Zealand briefly. Only one frontline spinner, an alteration in the batting position of their best batter and two surprising inclusions.

These shuffles have been par for the course for a while, but the most interesting change has been their aggressive approach with the bat. It may have not helped them win the tri-series, but it did help them chase down their record total, and most significantly, promises to offer an entertaining showcase of their cricketing potential.

Playing 11 Details

What to expect: It's been a high-scoring venue, with the average first innings score of 289. Of the 19 venues that have hosted at least six ODIs since January 2023, it is the second highest scoring venue after Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium. However, there is no distinct advantage for winning the toss. In the last eight games played at the venue, teams batting first and bowling first have won four times each.

Team News:

Pakistan: Haris Rauf, who had sustained a muscular strain in his lower chest wall during the recently-concluded tri-series, was declared available for the opening game of Champions Trophy. He has also resumed practice in the nets.

Probable XI: Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam/Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf

New Zealand: Lockie Ferguson has been ruled out of the tournament. Kyle Jamieson has been roped in as his replacement. Meanwhile, Rachin Ravindra, who had sustained a face injury during the tri-series has resumed his practise, but his availability is yet to be confirmed.

Probable XI: Will Young/Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Nathan Smith/Jacob Duffy, Will O'Rourke

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Here is the simple form for sending Predictions--

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Format for predictions

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-Winning Team -- 5 points -- Name

-Man of the Match -- 15 --

-Hit the most 4s-- 10 Points -

-Hit the most 6s -10 points --

-Taking the majority of wickets --10 --

-Making the most runs --- 10 points --

Standing in their way first are New Zealand, a team that has beaten them in the last two encounters in the tri-series, and a team that has played seven ODIs since the start of 2023 at the same venue.

For all of Pakistan's familiarity to home conditions, it is the Mitchell Santner-led team that walks into the contest with head-to-head form on their side as well as ample familiarity to the challenges of the venue.

That said, New Zealand have their own set of challenges to deal with after having been hit though with a slew of injuries just days ahead of the tournament. Lockie Ferguson and Ben Sears have been ruled out, and Rachin Ravindra is yet to return after being hit on his head while fielding.

Given the format of the tournament which leaves little room for error, for warm-ups and second chances, both teams would have hoped to have settled more in their preparations.

But with the tournament finally here, there's no more time for adjustments. The stage is set, narratives are in motion, and only performances on match day will matter!!

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Addressing the swirling debate over Pakistan’s opening combination during the pre-match press conference, the skipper made his stance crystal clear.

"If you look at the conditions and decide based on what’s best for the team, then it is Babar who should open," he declared, putting to rest any lingering doubts.

Dismissing rumours of Azam’s reluctance to continue at the top, he firmly stated:

"Babar is satisfied, and he will continue with it."

The captain emphasized that any alteration in the batting order was purely a strategic adjustment for the Champions Trophy, not a long-term shift.

“The change was only made for the five games of the tournament,” he clarified, reinforcing his faith in Pakistan’s premier batter to lead from the front.

Did you know?

Lahore's National Stadium has hosted 8 matches since the start of 2023, seven of being played between Pakistan and New Zealand

Devon Conway has struggled against Naseem Shah, getting thrice in three games against the pacer

Tom Latham, who hasn't been in the best of forms in 2025, has stroked three fifties across seven innings at the National Stadium

Champions Trophy 2025: PAK vs NZ head-to-head in ODIs

• Matches Played: 118
• Pakistan Wins: 61
• New Zealand Wins: 53
• No Results: 3

For Pakistan, Babar Azam will continue to open the batting. Pacer Haris Rauf has also recovered from his injury and is expected to feature in the playing XI.

New Zealand have been hit by several injuries as pacers Lockie Ferguson and Ben Sears have been ruled out of the tournament, Jacob Duffy and Kyle Jamieson have been included in the 15-member squad.

Pakistan are the defending champions of Champions Trophy and hence the pressure will firmly be on the hosts. Pakistan are hosting an ICC event after 29 years.

Pakistan is set to host its first major cricket tournament in nearly three decades as the ICC Champions Trophy . Group A includes Pakistan, India, New Zealand. At the same time, Group B includes Australia, England, Afghanistan, and South Africa.

Each team has only 3 games and it is virtual knockout cricket so expect Champions Trophy 2025 to be a high-pressure and well-contested event. Pakistan and New Zealand have met each other in 118 ODI matches to date. Pakistan have claimed 61 wins to New Zealand's 53. Mohammad Rizwan will lead the Men in Green while Santner will captain the Blackcaps.

Pakistan and New Zealand recently played in the Tri Series where New Zealand won both the games these teams faced and eventually won the Tri Series Final which was played at this same venu. They will be high on confidence and the hosts Pakistan are Defending Champions of the Champions Trophy having won the previous edition in 2017. This promises to be a thrilling match!

Pitch Report

As seen by recent trends, the pitches on offer for ICC tournaments have been quite batting-friendly in general. With the matchday expected to be a warm day with little-to-no chances of rain, the deck in Karachi is expected to be yet another good surface for batters. The spinners are expected to find decent assistance as and when the condition of the ball deteriorates.

Pakistan will take heart from being hosts and most importantly, knowing the conditions very well than other teams. Though they have been marred with injuries, one thing that has affected them most is opener, Saim Ayub’s unavailability. On the other hand, the tri-series has helped New Zealand get acclimatised to the conditions and they too have lost the services of Lockie Ferguson to injury.

PAK vs NZ Probable Best Performers

Probable Best Batter:

Fakhar Zaman. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)

Fakhar Zaman had a brilliant outing for Pakistan in their last 50-over ICC event as the opener. He was impressive in the tri-series, scoring 135 runs in three games at an average of 45 and a strike rate of 120.53.

Probable Best Bowler:

Matt Henry. Matt Henry had a good outing for New Zealand in the tri-series. He is currently leading the attack for them in the Champions Trophy. He picked five wickets in two games before stepping into the global event.

Scenario 1

• New Zealand win the toss and opt to bat first.
• Powerplay: 40-50
• NZ: 260-280
• New Zealand win the match.

Scenario 2

• Pakistan win the toss and opt to bat first.
• Powerplay: 50-60
• PAK: 270-290
• Pakistan win the match.

Team batting first to win the match

Disclaimer: The prediction is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While making your prediction, consider the points mentioned, and make your own decision.

Both are coming to this match after a recent encounter twice in the tri-series, in which both of the matches were won by New Zealand and that will work as a booster for them as they had game time on the pitches where the tournament is going to happen. Both the teams are in the Group where one loss may lead to an exit from the tournament, that’s why both of them will try to begin their journey with a victory, However, New Zealand seems the hot favourite