Lahore, February 8, 2025 – New Zealand have won the toss and elected to bat first in the opening One-Day International (ODI) of the much-anticipated tri-nation series against Pakistan at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.
With a batting-friendly pitch on offer, New Zealand’s decision aims to set a challenging target for the hosts in this crucial match.
This tri-series, featuring Pakistan, New Zealand, and South Africa, is a vital preparation event for the upcoming 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, which will be co-hosted by Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The tournament follows a single round-robin format, with the top two teams advancing to the final in Karachi. Notably, Pakistan and New Zealand will face each other again in the Champions Trophy opener, adding further significance to this encounter.
Pakistan’s Current Form and Squad Updates
Pakistan, under the leadership of Mohammad Rizwan, have been in formidable ODI form, securing series victories in Australia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. However, the team suffered a major setback with the injury of Saim Ayub, who had been instrumental at the top of the order. In his absence, Fakhar Zaman makes his return to the ODI squad, bringing firepower to the batting lineup.
The team’s batting unit remains solid, featuring Babar Azam, Rizwan, and Kamran Ghulam, while the middle order is further strengthened by the return of Saud Shakeel, who last played in the 2023 World Cup in India. The all-rounder department welcomes back Faheem Ashraf and Khushdil Shah, both of whom recently delivered strong performances in the Bangladesh Premier League.
Pakistan’s bowling attack continues to be one of the most lethal in world cricket, with a pace battery comprising Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, and Mohammad Hasnain. However, their decision to go with only one specialist spinner, Abrar Ahmed, could pose a challenge in certain conditions.
New Zealand’s Squad and Key Challenges
New Zealand enter the series with a fresh approach under the captaincy of Mitchell Santner, who took over in 2024. Their recent ODI performances have been mixed, having suffered a series defeat in Sri Lanka before bouncing back to secure a home victory against the same opposition. The team’s core batting lineup, including Kane Williamson, Tom Latham, Rachin Ravindra, and Devon Conway, remains intact.
However, New Zealand face a few selection dilemmas ahead of the game. Devon Conway’s availability is uncertain due to his ongoing SA20 commitments in South Africa, while key pacer Lockie Ferguson is also a doubt, prompting the inclusion of Jacob Duffy as a backup.
New Zealand’s squad boasts impressive all-rounders in Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Nathan Smith, and Michael Bracewell, offering flexibility in both batting and bowling departments. Their pace attack, led by Matt Henry, will rely on the contributions of Will O’Rourke and Ben Sears to execute their bowling strategy effectively.
With both teams fine-tuning their preparations ahead of the Champions Trophy, all eyes will be on this highly anticipated showdown between Pakistan and New Zealand to see which side takes the early advantage in the tri-series.