The tri-series between Pakistan, New Zealand, and South Africa will begin on 8th February in Pakistan. The first game will be played between Pakistan and New Zealand tomorrow at Gaddafi Stadium.
Match Preview:
Pakistan is set to take on New Zealand in the opening match of the ODI Tri-Series at the iconic Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. This series, which also features South Africa, is a perfect warm-up for the teams ahead of the highly anticipated Champions Trophy 2025.
Pakistan, led by the dynamic Mohammad Rizwan, has announced a strong squad, blending experience and youth. With Saim Ayub out, Babar Azam is likely to open the batting with Fakhar Zaman. The team will also be looking to finalize their combinations, with Khusdil Shah and Faheem Ashraf adding depth to the lineup.
New Zealand, under the captaincy of Mitch Santner, has been in impressive form lately. The return of Kane Williamson strengthens their squad, making this match an intriguing contest. As both teams are in the same group for the Champions Trophy 2025, this game promises to be a valuable preparation and a closely fought encounter.
All eyes will be on two key players from both sides Babar and Williamson as it is yet to be seen how Babar will adjust himself in a new opening role and the comeback of Williamson will be a gleeful sight for the Black Caps.
Probable Playing XI:
Pakistan: 1 Fakhar Zaman, 2 Babar Azam, 3 Kamran Ghulam, 4 Mohammad Rizwan (capt, wk), 5 Tayyab Tahir/Saud Shakeel, 6 Salman Agha, 7 Khushdil Shah, 8 Shaheen Afridi, 9 Naseem Shah, 10 Haris Rauf, 11 Abrar Ahmed
New Zealand; 1 Devon Conway, 2 Will Young, 3 Rachin Ravindra, 4 Kane Williamson, 5 Daryl Mitchell, 5 Tom Latham (wk), 7 Glenn Phillips/Michael Bracewell, 8 Mitchell Santner (capt), 9 Lockie Ferguson, 10 Matt Henry, 11 Will O’Rourke
Pitch and weather report;
The newly rebuilt Gaddafi Stadium presents a bit of an unknown, but historically, this venue has been known for its flat batting surfaces, which tend to favor teams with extra pace in ODI cricket. As for the weather, expect a mix of cloud cover and sunshine, with temperatures cooling down in the evening. Fortunately, no rain is forecasted, ensuring a full game without interruptions.
Head-to-head record:
The two teams have faced each other a total of 116 times, with Pakistan holding a slight edge. The Green Shirts have emerged victorious on 61 occasions, while the Kiwis have won 51 matches. Three encounters have ended in no result, while one match has been tied.
Prediction:
Given Pakistan recently won an Odi series against Australia and South Africa, they are favourites to win the 1st game of the upcoming tri-series..
Where to Watch:
Pakistan: Ten Sports, A Sports, Tamasha, Myco, Tapmad
North America: Willow TV
MENA & South Asia: Cricbuzz, Tapmad
Bangladesh: T Sports
UK: Sky Sports, ARY Digital
India: Sony, Fancode
Sub-Saharan Af
rica: SuperSport
Sri Lanka: Dialog TV
