The New Zealand vs Pakistan prediction for the 1st ODI match is set to be a thrilling encounter as both teams look to start their campaign on a high note. New Zealand, coming off a victory in the ODI Tri Series in Pakistan, will aim to continue their winning momentum. Pakistan, the defending Champions Trophy winners, will rely on their home advantage and key players like Fakhar Zaman and Shaheen Afridi. With both teams boasting strong lineups, this match promises to be a high-stakes battle. Let’s dive into the match details, team previews, squads, and more to predict who will come out on top.
Table of content
- 1 Match Details
- 2 Team Preview
- 3 New Zealand (NZ) Preview
- 4 Pakistan (PAK) Preview
- 5 Team Squad
- 6 Probable Playing XI
- 7 Fantasy Team XI – Dream11 Prediction for Today New Zealand vs Pakistan
- 8 Favourite Team in Today’s Match
- 9 New Zealand ODI History
- 10 Pakistan ODI History
- 11 Head-to-Head Stats
- 12 Pitch Report
- 13 Weather Report
- 14 Broadcast Details
- 15 Toss Prediction:
- 16 Match Prediction?
- 17 FAQ – NZ vs PAK 1st ODI
- 18 Share this:
- 19 Like this:
- 20 Related
Match Details
Match | New Zealand vs Pakistan 1st ODI 2025 |
---|---|
Date | Wednesday, February 19, 2025 |
Time | 2:30 PM |
Venue | National Stadium, Karachi |
Broadcast | Live Streaming on JioHotstar, Star Sports Network |
Team Preview
New Zealand (NZ) Preview
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New Zealand had a disappointing run in the previous edition of the Champions Trophy, failing to qualify for the semi-finals. However, they enter the 2025 edition in strong form, having won the recent ODI Tri-Series in Pakistan.
Currently ranked 4th in the ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings with a rating of 104, the Kiwis are expected to challenge the top teams in this tournament.
Key Players to Watch
1. Kane Williamson
Williamson showed his class in the Pakistan ODI Tri-Series, where he played some match-winning knocks. His ability to control the innings and perform under pressure makes him a key player.
2. Mitchell Santner
Santner is a highly skilled left-arm spinner and will also captain the team. His ability to break partnerships and bowl economically in the middle overs will be crucial.
3. Daryl Mitchell
Mitchell is a key batting all-rounder who can score quickly in the middle order and also chip in with the ball.
4. Lockie Ferguson
Ferguson brings raw pace to the attack and will be New Zealand’s key strike bowler in the powerplay and death overs.
Team Composition & Strategy
Batting Lineup
- Top Order: Kane Williamson, Will Young, Mark Chapman
- Middle Order: Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra
- Lower Order & Wicketkeepers: Devon Conway, Tom Latham
New Zealand’s batting lineup has a strong blend of experience and youth, with Williamson leading the charge.
Bowling Attack
- Fast Bowlers: Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy
- Spinners: Mitchell Santner, Rachin Ravindra
- All-rounder: Nathan Smith
New Zealand’s bowling attack is versatile, with a mix of express pace and quality spin.
Challenges for New Zealand
- Dependence on Williamson – The batting unit needs to support him better.
- Lack of experience in death overs – Controlling runs at the end will be a key challenge.
New Zealand’s Strategy for ICC Champions Trophy 2025
- Strong starts from Williamson & Young to set a solid foundation.
- Middle-order acceleration with power-hitters like Phillips & Mitchell.
- Spin dominance in middle overs with Santner & Ravindra.
- Ferguson & Henry to lead pace attack in powerplay & death overs.
New Zealand will look to bounce back from their previous Champions Trophy disappointment and aim for a deep run in the tournament.
Pakistan (PAK) Preview
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Pakistan enters the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 as the defending champions, having won the tournament in 2017 with a historic victory over India in the final. Currently ranked third in the ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings with a rating of 108, Pakistan remains one of the strongest contenders in this edition.
Recently, Pakistan played in the ODI Tri-Series at home, where they reached the final but lost to New Zealand. Despite that setback, they are still considered one of the favorites for the tournament.
Key Players to Watch
1. Fakhar Zaman
Zaman was the standout performer in the 2017 Champions Trophy final, where he scored a match-winning century against India. His ability to dominate bowling attacks early in the innings makes him a crucial player for Pakistan.
2. Shaheen Afridi
Afridi is one of the most feared fast bowlers in the world. His ability to swing the ball early and pick up key wickets will be vital for Pakistan’s success.
3. Babar Azam
Babar is Pakistan’s best ODI batter and will lead the batting lineup. His consistency, ability to anchor the innings, and play under pressure make him a crucial asset.
4. Mohammad Rizwan
Leading the side in this tournament, Rizwan is a calm and composed leader who also plays a key role as the team’s wicketkeeper-batter. His ability to finish innings and rotate strike will be crucial in the middle overs.
Team Composition & Strategy
Batting Lineup
- Top Order: Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan
- Middle Order: Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Saud Shakeel
- Lower Order & All-rounders: Salman Agha, Kamran Ghulam
Pakistan’s batting lineup is balanced, with experienced top-order batters and hard-hitting middle-order players.
Bowling Attack
- Fast Bowlers: Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain
- Spinners: Abrar Ahmed, Salman Agha
- All-rounder: Faheem Ashraf
Pakistan’s bowling unit is one of the best in the tournament, featuring lethal pacers and an experienced spin attack.
Challenges for Pakistan
- Batting under pressure – Pakistan needs to avoid middle-order collapses.
- Death bowling execution – Controlling runs in the final overs will be crucial.
Pakistan’s Strategy for ICC Champions Trophy 2025
- Aggressive top-order batting to set the tone.
- Early breakthroughs with pace attack led by Shaheen Afridi.
- Spin attack to dominate in middle overs.
Pakistan will be looking to defend their title and establish themselves as the top ODI team in the world.
Team Squad
Pakistan (PAK)
Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
New Zealand (NZ)
Mitchell Santner (captain), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Jacob Duffy, Nathan Smith, Kane Williamson, Will Young.
Probable Playing XI
Pakistan (PAK)
- Fakhar Zaman
- Babar Azam
- Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
- Saud Shakeel
- Khushdil Shah
- Faheem Ashraf
- Salman Ali Agha
- Shaheen Afridi
- Haris Rauf
- Naseem Shah
- Abrar Ahmed
New Zealand (NZ)
- Devon Conway
- Will Young
- Kane Williamson
- Daryl Mitchell
- Glenn Phillips
- Tom Latham (wk)
- Mitchell Santner (c)
- Michael Bracewell
- Matt Henry
- Lockie Ferguson
- Will O’Rourke
Fantasy Team XI – Dream11 Prediction for Today New Zealand vs Pakistan
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Player | Role | Team |
---|---|---|
Kane Williamson | Batsman | New Zealand |
Babar Azam | Batsman | Pakistan |
Fakhar Zaman | Batsman | Pakistan |
Devon Conway | Batsman | New Zealand |
Mitchell Santner | All-Rounder | New Zealand |
Shaheen Afridi | Bowler | Pakistan |
Lockie Ferguson | Bowler | New Zealand |
Haris Rauf | Bowler | Pakistan |
Glenn Phillips | Batsman | New Zealand |
Mohammad Rizwan | Wicketkeeper | Pakistan |
Matt Henry | Bowler | New Zealand |
Analysis:
- Kane Williamson and Babar Azam are must-haves for their consistent batting performances.
- Shaheen Afridi and Lockie Ferguson are key bowlers who can pick up crucial wickets.
- All-rounders like Mitchell Santner and Faheem Ashraf add balance to the fantasy team.
Players to Avoid in Fantasy Team
- Khushdil Shah (PAK): Inconsistent performances in recent matches.
- Will O’Rourke (NZ): Limited experience in ODIs.
Also Check: Get The Best Dream11 Prediction From Cricket Experts
Favourite Team in Today’s Match
New Zealand are the favourites to win this match. Their recent form, balanced squad, and success in the ODI Tri Series give them an edge. Pakistan will need to leverage their home advantage to challenge the Kiwis.
New Zealand ODI History
New Zealand have played 834 ODIs, winning 384 and losing 400. They are known for their competitive spirit and consistent performances in ICC tournaments.
Pakistan ODI History
Pakistan have played 982 ODIs, winning 520 and losing 433. They are the defending Champions Trophy winners and have a strong record in home conditions.
Head-to-Head Stats
Stats | Matches Played | NZ Won | PAK Won | No Result | Tied |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Overall | 118 | 53 | 61 | 3 | 1 |
At National Stadium | 9 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Pakistan have a slight edge in overall head-to-head stats, but New Zealand have performed better at the National Stadium, Karachi.
Pitch Report
The pitch at the National Stadium, Karachi, is known to be batting-friendly with some assistance for spinners as the match progresses. A score of 270+ is considered competitive.
National Stadium (Karachi) |
City | Karachi | ||
Country | Pakistan | ||
Matches Played | 56 | ||
Matches Won Batting First | 26 (44.83%) | ||
Matches Won Batting Second | 28 (48.28%) | ||
Matches Won Winning Toss | 23 (39.66%) | ||
Matches Won Losing Toss | 31 (53.45%) | ||
Matches with No Result | 2 (3.57%) | ||
Highest Individual Innings | 181 | I V A Richards (West Indies) | 13/10/1987 v Sri Lanka |
Best Bowling | 6/13 | B A W Mendis (Sri Lanka) | 06/07/2008 v India |
Highest Team Innings | 374/4 (India) | 25/06/2008 v Hong Kong | |
Lowest Team Innings | 115 (Bangladesh) | 04/07/2008 v Pakistan | |
Highest Run Chase Achieved | 355/4 (Pakistan) | 12/02/2025 v South Africa | |
Average Runs per Wicket | 35.77 | ||
Average Runs per Over | 5.35 | ||
Average Score Batting First | 246 |
Weather Report
The weather is expected to be clear with no chances of rain. Temperatures will hover around 20-25°C, providing ideal conditions for an ODI match.
Broadcast Details
- Live Streaming: JioHotstar, Star Sports Network
- TV Channels: Star Sports
Toss Prediction:
Winner: Pakistan
Match Prediction?
Our Winner: New Zealand Will Win
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Also, once the toss takes place, we might modify the Today Match Prediction as per the playing XIs. Please check this blog after the toss for the updated Prediction.
FAQ – NZ vs PAK 1st ODI
What time does the NZ vs PAK 1st ODI start?
The match starts at 2:30 PM on February 19, 2025.
Where can I watch the NZ vs PAK 1st ODI?
The match will be live-streamed on JioHotstar and broadcast on Star Sports.
Who is the favourite to win the NZ vs PAK 1st ODI?
New Zealand are the favourites due to their recent form and balanced squad.
Who are the key players to watch in this match?
Kane Williamson, Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Mitchell Santner are key players.
What is the head-to-head record between NZ and PAK?
Pakistan have won 61 matches, while New Zealand have won 53 out of 118 ODIs.
What is the pitch like at the National Stadium, Karachi?
The pitch is batting-friendly with some assistance for spinners later in the match.
Disclaimer: Predictions are for entertainment purposes only. We don’t get involved in or promote betting or gambling. Also, We strongly discourage behaviors of participating in illegal activities related to cricket. Our experts try to be as correct as possible, but we do not guarantee 100% correctness.
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