Lahore, February 8, 2025 – Pakistan and New Zealand are set to face off in the highly anticipated first One-Day International (ODI) of the tri-nation series today at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
This series serves as a key preparatory event for the 2025 Champions Trophy, which will be jointly hosted by Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in less than two weeks.
As part of their final tune-up for the global event, Pakistan, New Zealand, and South Africa will compete in this tri-series, played in a single round-robin format. The top two teams will advance to the final in Karachi. The opening match between Pakistan and New Zealand is expected to be a thrilling encounter, particularly as both sides are set to meet again in the Champions Trophy opener.
Pakistan’s Form and Team Selection
Under the leadership of Mohammad Rizwan, Pakistan has been in dominant ODI form, securing series wins in Australia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. However, the team suffered a setback with the injury of Saim Ayub, who played a pivotal role at the top of the order. His absence paves the way for the return of the explosive Fakhar Zaman. Additionally, Saud Shakeel makes his comeback, having last featured in the 2023 World Cup in India.
The batting core remains strong with Babar Azam, Rizwan, and Kamran Ghulam, while the all-rounder department welcomes back Faheem Ashraf and Khushdil Shah, both of whom recently shined in the Bangladesh Premier League. Pakistan’s pace attack is as lethal as ever, featuring Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, and Mohammad Hasnain. However, their decision to include only one specialist spinner, Abrar Ahmed, could prove risky.
New Zealand’s Squad and Challenges
New Zealand also enters the series with a new leadership setup, as Mitchell Santner took over captaincy in 2024. Their recent ODI performances have been mixed, with a series loss in Sri Lanka, followed by a strong home victory against the same opponents. Their batting unit, led by Kane Williamson, Tom Latham, Rachin Ravindra, and Devon Conway, remains largely intact. However, Conway’s availability is uncertain due to his SA20 commitments in South Africa, while pacer Lockie Ferguson is also a doubt, leading to the inclusion of Jacob Duffy as a backup.
New Zealand’s squad boasts solid all-rounders in Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Nathan Smith, and Michael Bracewell, providing depth across departments. The pace attack, spearheaded by Matt Henry, will rely on Will O’Rourke and Ben Sears to complement their bowling strategy.
As both teams fine-tune their preparations, the cricketing world eagerly awaits to see which side will rise to the occasion in this crucial series opener.