Champions Trophy 2025, Match 1: Pakistan vs New Zealand Match Preview
Pakistan and New Zealand lock horns in the curtain-raiser of the Champions Trophy 2025 on Wednesday, February 19.
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Defending champions and hosts Pakistan take on a buoyant New Zealand side at the National Stadium in Karachi in the first match of the Champions Trophy 2025 on Wednesday, February 19.
These two teams met recently in a tri-nation series which also featured a second-string South African side. The Kiwis beat Pakistan on both occasions convincingly. In the first game in Lahore, New Zealand amassed 330/6 in their 50 overs on the back of Glenn Phillips' epic century. Pakistan were bowled out for 252 in reply. They met each other once again in the final where the hosts huffed and puffed to 242 in Karachi after winning the toss and opting to bat first. The Blackcaps reached the target with five wickets and 28 balls to spare.
New Zealand are playing in unfamiliar conditions but they have looked quite comfortable because of the excellent balance that the side has. Spin-bowling all-rounders Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, and Mitchell Santner have added a lot of depth. Kane Williamson and Devon Conway were among the runs in the tri-nation series and that would give the Kiwi fans a lot of confidence. Even in the absence of the injured Lockie Ferguson, the New Zealand seam-bowling attack looks formidable, with Matt Henry and William O'Rourke being in good form.
Pakistan's experiment of opening with Babar Azam did not work out in the tri-nation series as the legendary batter only managed 62 runs from three innings. However, head coach Aqib Javed backed him to continue in the role in the Champions Trophy. Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Rizwan will hold the key for Pakistan with the bat. Salman Ali Agha has also been in good nick with the willow and he will have a crucial role to play at No. 5. Being the leader of the attack, a lot of expectations will be there from Shaheen Shah Afridi. He has blown hot and cold of late but can fire on big occasions.
Also Check: Champions Trophy 2025: Schedule, Squads, Live Streaming, Broadcasters & All you need to know
Match Details
| Match | Pakistan vs New Zealand, Champions Trophy 2025 |
| Venue | National Stadium, Karachi |
| Date and Time | Wednesday, February 19, 2:30 pm (IST) |
| Live Streaming and Broadcast Details | JioStar (Live streaming on Jio Hotstar), television coverage on Star and Network 18 channels |
Pitch Report
The National Stadium is anticipated to provide favourable batting conditions. Fast bowlers may find some movement early on, but batting is expected to get easier as the match progresses. Known for its flat nature, the track allows batters to play their shots freely and will get great value due to the lightning-fast outfield. The spinners might get some assistance as the ball wears, though extracting significant turn is unlikely.Head-To-Head Record
| Matches | 118 |
| Won by Pakistan | 61 |
| Won by New Zealand | 53 |
| No Result | 1 |
| Tied | 3 |
| First Played | February 11, 1973 |
| Last Played | February 14, 2025 |
Predicted Playing XIs
Pakistan:
Pakistan will have to decide whether they want to go with the tearaway speedster, Mohammad Hasnain, or add more backup in the batting department by playing all-rounder Faheem Ashraf. The latter played in the final against New Zealand. Playing in front of their home fans, it won't be a surprise to see the Men in Green going with the more aggressive approach and giving Hasnain a go.
Predicted XI: Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (c/wk), Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Faheem Ashraf/Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed.
New Zealand:
The Kiwis will miss Lockie's services but they have enough ammunition in their tank. Jacob Duffy should form the troika of pacers along with Henry and O'Rourke. The Kiwis do not need to make too many changes to the side that played the final against Pakistan. Santner and Co. would want to get off to a flying start in the tournament.
Predicted XI: Will Young, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy, Will O'Rourke.
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