PAK vs NZ Match Prediction: Who will win the ICC Champions Trophy Opener 2025 Match 1?
PAK vs NZ Match Details
The first match of the ICC CHAMPIONS Trophy 2025 will be played between Pakistan and New Zealand on Wednesday, 19th of February at the National Stadium, Karachi, Pakistan. Both are coming to this match after a recent encounter twice in the tri-series, in which both of the matches were won by New Zealand and that will work as a booster for them as they had game time on the pitches where the tournament is going to happen. Both the teams are in the Group where one loss may lead to an exit from the tournament, that’s why both of them will try to begin their journey with a victory, However, New Zealand seems the hot favourite for this opening encounter.
| Series | ICC CHAMPIONS TROPHY 2025 |
|---|---|
| Match | Pakistan Vs New Zealand |
| Venue | National Stadium, Karachi, Pakistan |
| Date & Time | Feb 19, 2025, at 2:30 PM IST |
| Live Streaming | JioHotstar (App & Website) |
| Live Broadcast | Star Sports Network |
PAK vs NZ Head-to-Head Record
Pakistan and New Zealand came across each against for 118 times in ODIs, in which Pakistan won 61 times and 53 matches won by New Zealand, 3 matches had no results and 1 match was a tie. Despite having a slight edge in the head-to-head record, Pakistan will be under a lot of pressure as recently Pakistan lost both matches against New Zealand in the Tri-series despite having a home advantage. Also, they are the host of this ICC Champions trophy which will surely put an extra burden on them, as after a very long period Pakistan is hosting an ICC event.
However, Pakistan can beat any team on their day as they have a very strong fast bowling line up and no other team knows the conditions better than them.
| Number of Matches Played | 118 |
| Won by Pak | 61 |
| Won by NZ | 53 |
| No Result | 3 |
| Tie | 1 |
| Last 5 matches | New Zealand 4 – 1 Pakistan |
PAK vs NZ Pitch Report & Weather Conditions
High-scoring Encounter
The Pitch at the National Stadium, Karachi, Pakistan is known for a balanced pitch that offers something for both batters and bowlers. As far as the limited overs format, the pitch will be a bit on the batter’s side as most of them are flat. A high-scoring encounter is anticipated at this venue, much like the recent match at Gaddafi Stadium. Early on, pacers may receive some assistance, but once that fades, the pitch will favour the batters, enabling them to play freely. While spinners might find some grip as the ball gets old, a substantial turn is unlikely.
Average Innings Score
The average 1st innings score of all ODIs played at the National Stadium, Karachi is 237 runs and the average of 2nd innings score is 202 runs.
Chasing Record at the Venue
The chasing record at the National Stadium in Karachi has been quite interesting, especially in limited-overs cricket. Historically, the ground has seen a balanced record for teams chasing totals, with no significant bias toward either side. The flat pitch conditions and shorter boundaries make it a good venue for chasing high totals, as teams often find it easier to accelerate their innings.
Weather conditions
The weather conditions on this ground are perfect for cricket. On match day, the temperature is forecasted to be around 30°C with a clear sky. No Interruption during the play is predicted, which is good news for both teams and players as a full match will happen. The pitch is going to be very batting-friendly with more runs likely to be scored and a high-scoring encounter is being expected.
The fresh wicket will allow the ball to come onto the bat easily, making strokeplay efficient for batters. The first-inning average score on this ground is 237 runs, so the team batting first needs to score at least 237 runs to make the match interesting. Due to the batting-friendly conditions, all batters have a good chance to score big runs on this ground.
| Temperature | 30°C |
| Weather Forecast | Clear Sky |
| Pitch Behaviour | Batting-friendly |
| Best Suited To | Batsmen |
| Average 1st innings score | 237 |
PAK vs NZ Expected Playing 11
PAK Expected Playing 11: Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (C & Wk), Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf.
NZ Expected Playing 11: Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Philips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (C), Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Will O’Rourke.
NZ played well during the recent Tri-series against Pakistan and South Africa, and they had a great team that is going to do well in the sub-continent, with openers like Rachin Ravindra, and Devon Conway, both doing well in IPL and India as well. Not to forget Kane Williamson will be there as well at number 3 who will lead the batting lineup with his experience.
The pace attack of Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, and Will O’Rourke provides a good mix of experience and raw pace. Henry offers control with the new ball, Ferguson brings express pace in the middle overs, while O’Rourke has shown promise as a death overs specialist.
This combination worked particularly well during their tri-series victory, where they successfully adapted to Pakistani conditions and outperformed both Pakistan and South Africa. With the form in which New Zealand are in right now, they are the top contenders for winning the ICC Champions Trophy.
Squad of Pakistan and New Zealand for ICC Champions Trophy
Pakistan Full Squad:
Mohammad Rizwan (C&Wk), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Fakhar Zaman, Usman Khan, Tayyab Tahir, Salman Agha, Kamran Ghulam, Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
New Zealand Full Squad:
Mitchell Santner (C), Will Young, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Michael Bracewell, Daryl Mitchell, Nathan Smith, Glenn Philips, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway (wk), Tom Latham (wk), Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Will O’Rourke.
Predictions for Opening Encounter
Score Prediction for NZ vs PAK Encounter:
Considering the average first-innings score of 237 and the fact that both these teams have many high-quality international batters in their line-ups, a first-innings score of around 260-270 could be expected in the match.
Toss Prediction for PAK vs NZ Encounter:
The Karachi National Stadium has been renewed, and both teams will play on a new pitch in the first match. It is a new pitch and the team doesn’t have an exact idea of how the pitch will behave, it has always been observed that in this type of condition teams always want to elect to bowl first after winning the Toss.
If Pakistan wins the toss, they will elect to bowl first and try to put pressure on the batters of New Zealand with their bowling attack which includes, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Naseem Shah. This bowling line has everything that is required for a good team, a tall left-arm bowler with swing and seam, A genuine Fast bowler, who can bowl continuously at 150+ kmph and a bowler who bowls continuously on a good line and length and makes batter compelled mistake.
If New Zealand wins the toss they will also elect to bowl first as this is a fresh pitch and the best thing to do on a fresh pitch is to bowl first and assess the conditions, also its the first game of this tournament and it is difficult to understand what is the winning total for this pitch, its better to let opposition set the total and bat accordingly.
Pak vs NZ Players to perform prediction
Pakistan’s Top 3 Performer Prediction
The top three players who are expected to perform for Pakistan in the first game against New Zealand are Salman Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Babar Azam.
- Salman Agha played well in the tri-series and scored 219 runs in 3 innings at an impressive average of 73. He has been a consistent performer in the tri-nation series for Pakistan. His ability to single-handedly guide Pakistan to the final through his batting abilities, combined with an excellent blend of power and timing, establishes him as a crucial impact player for Pakistan in this Champions Trophy.
- Shaheen Shah Afridi is renowned worldwide for his exceptional bowling skills and continues to be a formidable force. His ability to swing the new ball at a considerable pace often leaves batsmen struggling at the crease. In the tri-nation series, he claimed 6 wickets in 3 innings at an average of 33, demonstrating his current excellent form and securing his position as an impact player.
- Babar Azam is one of the most important players in Pakistan’s batting lineup. He is an elegant top-order batsman equipped with superior technique and a comprehensive skill set. His ability to influence match outcomes through his batting and his reputation as a big-match player who thrives on significant occasions makes him a key member of Pakistan’s Champions Trophy campaign. His presence in the lineup adds considerable strength to Pakistan’s batting resources, making him the key player choice.
Also Read: ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Prize Money: How Much Will Teams Get?
New Zealand’s Top 3 Performer Prediction
The top three players who are expected to perform for New Zealand in the first game against Pakistan are Kane Williamson, William O’Rourke, and Rachin Ravindra.
- Kane Williamson demonstrated his exceptional form and scored 225 runs in just 3 innings at an impressive average of 112. His dominance against all bowlers makes him a crucial player to watch in the upcoming match of the Champions Trophy.
- William O’Rourke also emerged as another standout performer, displaying exceptional bowling prowess with 6 wickets in 3 innings to claim the top wicket-taker position in the series. His performance in the first match will be particularly interesting, as Pakistani batters will be eager to challenge his fiery bowling and score runs against him.
- Rachin Ravindra rounds out New Zealand’s impact players. Known for his versatility across all departments, Ravindra unfortunately suffered an injury in the opening match of the tri-nation series. However, he’s expected to make a strong comeback in the Champions Trophy 2025. The New Zealand team has high expectations for his contributions in both batting and bowling, making him a key impact player choice.
Match Prediction :
Pakistan Despite having a Home advantage is not the favourite to win the 1st game of the ICC Champions Trophy as New Zealand is looking in Red hot form and Williamson coming in the form just before this tournament increases the chances of winning the first match of the ICC Champions Trophy. And last Five Head-to-Head encounters also say the same as New Zealand won four out of five encounters between them.