The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy kicks off with a high-stakes Group A clash between Pakistan and New Zealand at Karachi’s National Stadium on February 19. Both teams enter the tournament with contrasting recent form and squad dynamics, setting the stage for a thrilling opener.
Venue & Conditions
Karachi’s National Stadium is a fortress for Pakistan, offering familiar pitches that typically favor spin as the game progresses. The surface tends to be batting-friendly early on, with bounce and pace for seamers under lights. Weather could play a role—February in Karachi is mild, but dew in the evening might influence bowling strategies.
Match Info
- Match:PAK vs NZ, 1st Match, Group A, ICC Champions Trophy, 2025
- Date:Wednesday, February 19, 2025
- Time:6:00 PM
- Venue:National Stadium, Karachi
Head to head Last 5 Matches
- New Zealand won by 78 runs
- Pakistan won by 21 runs (DLS method)
- New Zealand won by 47 runs
- Pakistan won by 102 runs
- Pakistan won by 26 runs
Pakistan Player/Role
- Mohammad Rizwan † (c) : Wicketkeeper Batter
- Abrar Ahmed: Bowler
- Salman Agha : Allrounder
- Babar Azam : Batter
- Faheem Ashraf : Bowling Allrounder
- Fakhar Zaman : Opening Batter
- Haris Rauf : Bowler
- Kamran Ghulam: Allrounder
- Khushdil Shah: Allrounder
- Mohammad Hasnain: Bowler
- Naseem Shah : Bowler
- Saud Shakeel: Middle order Batter
- Shaheen Shah Afridi : Bowler
- Tayyab Tahir : Middle order Batter
- Usman Khan : Top order Batter
New Zealand Player/Role
- Mitchell Santner (c): Bowling Allrounder
- Michael Bracewell : Batting Allrounder
- Mark Chapman: Allrounder
- Devon Conway : Wicketkeeper Batter
- Lockie Ferguson : Bowler
- Matt Henry : Bowler
- Tom Latham: Wicketkeeper Batter
- Daryl Mitchell : Batting Allrounder
- Will O’Rourke : Bowler
- Glenn Phillips : Allrounder
- Rachin Ravindra : Batting Allrounder
- Ben Sears : Bowler
- Nathan Smith : Allrounder
- Kane Williamson : Top order Batter
- Will Young : Top order Batter
Prediction
Pakistan starts as favorites due to home advantage, spin depth, and recent H2H dominance. However, New Zealand’s tactical adaptability and balanced squad make this a 50-50 contest. If Williamson’s men survive the early swing and neutralize Abrar’s threat, they could post a competitive total. Conversely, a fiery Shaheen spell or Babar-Rizwan partnership might seal it for Pakistan.
Verdict: Expect a tightly fought match, but Pakistan to edge NZ by 3 wickets or 15-20 runs in a high-scoring thriller. The toss (bat-first advantage) and dew factor might ultimately sway the result.
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