Categories: indibet Cricket

PAK vs NZ, ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Match Preview & Prediction

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.

Pakistan vs New Zealand

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.

Indibet Official

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