Pakistan and New Zealand will face each other in the 1st game of the Champions Trophy on 19th February in Karachi.
Match Preview
Talking about Pakistan, they are the defending champions and have shown good performances in ODIs recently, despite losing the Tri-Nation final against New Zealand. Expectations will be high, and all eyes will be on Babar Azam. Although Azam has struggled with his form recently, he remains a key player for the team.
His contribution will be vital for the home side. Fakhar Zaman’s performance at the top of the order will also be a deciding factor.
In the bowling department, Haris Rauf and Abrar Ahmed will need to step up to control the run rate in the middle overs.
Addressing the media, Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan acknowledged the added pressure on senior players:
“We’re all equal, whether someone’s a platinum or an emerging player. The senior players have a bit more pressure on them, and we expect ourselves to perform on the biggest occasions, and this is as big as it gets.”
On the other hand, New Zealand has everything sorted out. They are in form and performing well, and their Tri-Nation Series victory will give them confidence heading into this match.
Rachin Ravindra, who suffered an injury in the first game of the Tri-Nation Series, is now fit to play. The only concern for New Zealand is the form of Tom Latham, but they will likely find a way to address this issue.
Probable Playing XI
Pakistan (possible): Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (capt & wk), Salman Ali Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.
New Zealand (possible): Rachin Ravindra/Will Young, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (capt), Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy, Will O’Rourke.
Pitch and Weather Report
Karachi’s National Stadium has recently hosted two contrasting matches—South Africa posted a record 352, which Pakistan chased down, while in another match, Pakistan was bowled out for 242 against New Zealand.
Historically, Karachi has been a challenging venue for fast bowlers in ODIs, with a combined average of 33.67 and an economy rate of 6.02. However, spinners have had slightly better control, with an average of 45.50 and an economy rate of 5.11.
A good batting surface with some assistance for bowlers is expected, in line with recent trends in global tournaments. Weather-wise, a warm day is forecast with little to no chance of rain and a high of 29°C.
Head-to-Head Record
Pakistan and New Zealand have faced each other 118 times in ODIs. Pakistan holds a slight edge, having won 61 matches, while New Zealand has emerged victorious 53 times. Three encounters ended with no result, and one match was tied.
Prediction
Based on their recent performances in the Tri-Nation Series, New Zealand enters the match as the favorites to win the first encounter of the tournament.
Where to watch:
India: Jio Hotstar,
Pakistan: Myco and Tamasha app
UAE and MENA: STARZPLAY
USA and Canada: Streaming on Willow by Cricbuzz app (Hindi coverage available)
Caribbean: ESPN Play Caribbean app
Australia: PrimeVideo
New Zealand: SkyGo app.
South Africa and sub-Saharan territories: SuperSport and SuperSport App
Bangladesh: Nagorik TV
Afghanistan: ATN
Sri Lanka: Maharaja TV
