With the Champions Trophy just around the corner, most of the participating teams are getting back into the hang of the ODI format and after what feels like decades and decades, we have an international Tri-Series taking place.
New Zealand and South Africa are in Pakistan ahead of time to participate in a short Tri-Series tournament with the Champions Trophy hosts as they look to get accustomed to the conditions.
Ahead of the first match of the Tri-Series between Pakistan and New Zealand, here’s our match preview and predictions.
Pakistan vs New Zealand | Pakistan Tri-nation Series 2025 | 14:30 IST, February 8
While Pakistan come into the tri-series using it as preparation for the Champions Trophy, the visitors will also look to sort out and fine tune all issues in the longer format as the Kiwis have a lot of their experienced players returning.
The hosts have Mohammad Rizwan leading a full-strength Pakistan team with Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Saud Shakeel and Usman Khan shouldering the batting responsibilities. Pakistan have a host of allrounders in Salman Agha, Khusdil Shah, Kamram Ghulam and Faheem Ashraf amongst others, who are handy with both disciplines and gives captain Rizwan a chance to play a full batter or bowler as required. Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah and Mohammad Hasnain lead a scary pace attack with the talented legbreak bowler Abrar Ahmed set to play a crucial role in the tri-series as well for the hosts.
Mitchell Santner will be leading the visitors with Santner having a strong batting lineup at his disposal including the likes of Kane Williamson, Will Young, Tom Latham and Devon Conway. New Zealand, like Pakistan, also boast of a couple of key allrounders, such as Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman and Daryl Mitchell, all of whom will be crucial in Pakistani conditions. Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry and Jacob Duff are the main pacers with Santner, Ravindra, Phillips heading in as the lead spinners.
The Lahore strip has always brought about plenty of runs along with providing assistance for the seamers, which should be case once again with hosts Pakistan coming in as favourites on conditions which suit them better.
Fantasy XI: Devon Conway, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Agha, Mitchell Santner, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Matt Henry
Venue: Lahore
Winners Prediction: Pakistan
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