The wait is finally over. Pakistan is all set to host an ICC event after 29 years, and the people of the country are buzzing. It’s just a matter of hours before the first ball is bowled.
To kickstart the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, defending champions Pakistan vs New Zealand will take place in Karachi. The Blackcaps defeated the men in green twice in the tri-series.
Pakistan Team Preview
The Mohammad Rizwan-led side headed into this series with more questions than answers. Who will open alongside Fakhar? Will one frontline spinner be enough? Will the out-of-form pace battery of Pakistan perform when it matters the most?
Two of those questions will be answered throughout the tournament but Rizwan put all speculation to bed, with the wicketkeeper batter expressing that, Babar Azam will continue to open – even though they have options – and that Babar is satisfied with his role.
The number 3 position is still up for grabs with both Saud Shakeel and Kamran Ghulam failing to make a significant mark and stamp their authority in the side.
Khushdil Shah was also someone who failed to make an impact but with him in the side, Rizwan will have the option of dividing 10 overs between him and Agha Salman.
Tayyab Tahir is expected to keep his place in the side at number 6, scoring 72 runs in 3 matches at an average of 36 and strike rate of 114.29 in the tri-series. His ability to score at a brisk rate would help Pakistan in the middle overs and at the death as well.
As regards the pace battery, barring Shaheen Shah Afridi, it looks off-color. Naseem Shah showed glimpses of his brilliance in the tri-series final against New Zealand but would be eager to do better in the mega event.
Rizwan also declared Haris Rauf fully fit for tomorrow’s encounter, after the pacer suffered a side strain in the opening match of the tri-series.
During the South Africa and Australia series, the pace attack was a force to reckon with especially in the middle overs, as Rauf was the wrecker in chief.
Since the 2023 ODI World Cup, Pakistan has averaged 27 balls per wicket in the middle overs at an average of just over 20. This average increased significantly in Rauf’s absence with Pakistan averaging a poor 55.78 balls per wicket.
Abrar’s discipline can help Haris Rauf trouble the batters with pace and force them to make a mistake.
The average first-innings score in Karachi since 2023 is 289 and if the men in green are put into the bowl, they will have a task at their hands to restrict the opposition to a smaller total.
New Zealand Team Preview
The Black Caps enter the tournament with a tri-series victory and look like a well-balanced side, performing on all cylinders.
Mitchell Santner’s side has played 7 ODIs at Karachi since the start of 2023 and will be fairly familiar with what the conditions have to offer.
After suffering a head injury in Lahore, Rachin Ravindra looked at ease while training in the nets on the eve of the game and if everything remains the same, the youngster will open alongside Devon Conway.
Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, and Glenn Phillips have been in form and the New Zealand side would breathe a sigh of relief with wicketkeeper Tom Latham amongst the runs finally, scoring a fifty in the tri-series final against Pakistan.
However, the pace attack of New Zealand suffered yet another setback after Lockie Ferguson was ruled out of the tournament a day before the match and replaced by 30-year-old Kyle Jamieson.
Ferguson bowled 3 overs in a warm-up match against Afghanistan on Sunday to test his match fitness.
It will be interesting to see how the bowling attack shapes up, with Matt Henry and Will O’Rourke almost certain to find a place in the lineup.
Jacob Duffy and Nathan Smith had an underwhelming outing in the final, conceding at 6.9 and 6.6 an over respectively.
Jamieson has not played since 10 months and has not played an ODI since September 2023, but had a remarkable outing in NZ’s Super Smash T20, grabbing 14 wickets at an economy of 5.95 in 12 innings.
The 6’8 pacer will not be able to join the squad in time for the tournament opener and hence is all but ruled out for this fixture at least.
Captain Mitch Santner and Michael Bracewell will spearhead the spin department, with Glenn Phillips also capable of bowling some handy overs in the middle.
Predicted lineup for Pakistan vs New Zealand
Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (c/wk), Agha Salman, Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.
New Zealand: Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy, Will O’Rourke.
