NZ vs PAK Dream11 Prediction: Dream11 Team Today, Fantasy Cricket Tips, Playing XI, Pitch Report, Injury Update – Pakistan tour of New Zealand 2025, Match No-1
NZ vs PAK Match Preview
As the Champions Trophy 2025 concludes, Pakistan will tour New Zealand for a five-match T20I series. The tournament’s first match, between New Zealand and Pakistan, will take place at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval. This exciting encounter will commence at 6:45 a.m. IST on Sunday, March 16, 2025. Cricket fans may watch the live action on the Sony Sports Network or access it online via the Sony Liv app.
| Match Info | |
|---|---|
| Series | Pakistan tour of New Zealand 2025 |
| Match | New Zealand vs Pakistan, Match Number 01 |
| Venue | Hagley Oval |
| City | Christchurch |
| Match Start Time | 6:45 AM IST – Sunday, 16 March 2025 |
| TV Channel | Sony Sports Network |
| Live Streaming | Sony Liv |
NZ vs PAK Head-to-Head Records (Total matches played: 44)
New Zealand and Pakistan have played 44 matches against each other, with Pakistan dominating the Kiwis in 23 of them, New Zealand winning 19 of them, and two matches ending in a no result
| Teams | Matches Won |
| New Zealand | 19 |
| Pakistan | 23 |
NZ vs PAK Weather & Pitch Report
The weather conditions for the first T20I match between Pakistan and New Zealand at Hagley Oval, Christchurch look ideal for cricket. The temperature is expected to be pleasant around 26°C, with clear skies forecasted. The pitch at this Stadium is known for being batting-friendly, heavily favoring batters. For bowlers, this venue presents a significant challenge, as the conditions offer little assistance. However, with skill and confidence, bowlers can still find success if they execute their plans effectively.
| Temperature | 31°C |
| Weather Forecast | Clear Sky |
| Pitch Behaviour | Batting-friendly |
| Best Suited To | Batters |
| Average 1st innings score | 162 |
Record of chasing teams on this stadium
Teams batting second enjoyed more success at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, winning 53% of the total 13 T20I matches—that is, 7 matches were won by the chasing side. This statistic shows an advantage for teams that bat second, making it the preferable option after winning the toss. This record for chasing teams is due to the pitch’s batting-friendly aspect and batters’ ability to pace their innings efficiently while aiming for a total of around 162. Given this trend, it would be interesting to observe which team bats second in an upcoming match, since winning the toss and electing to chase could be the key to victory in this match.
| Records | Good |
| Winning % | 53% |
NZ vs PAK: NZ to win the toss and choose to field first
New Zealand is hosting this T20I series on their home soil, we expect that Michael Bracewell, the captain of the New Zealand T20I side, will win the toss as the toss might favour Kiwi captain and he will likely to field first in the opening encounter, as previous statistics favor fielding first on this pitch.
New Zealand vs Pakistan Squads
New Zealand Full Squad
Michael Bracewell ©, Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Tim Robinson, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Hay (wk), Tim Seifert (wk), Ben Sears, Ish Sodhi, Kyle Jamieson, Will O’Rourke, Jacob Duffy.
Pakistan Full Squad
Abdul Samad, Hassan Nawaz, Irfan Khan Niazi, Omair Yousuf, Jahanda Khan, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha ©, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Haris (wk), Usman Khan (wk), Abbas Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem.
NZ vs PAK Dream11 Prediction Playing 11
New Zealand Playing 11
Mark Chapman, Tim Robinson, Finn Allen, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Tim Seifert (wk), Michael Bracewell ©, Ish Sodhi, Kyle Jamieson, Will O’Rourke, Jacob Duffy.
New Zealand playing XI includes some fresh faces since the team’s management rested their experienced players following the Champions Trophy 2025, but their squad appears to be fairly balanced.
Pakistan Playing 11
Abdul Samad, Hasan Nawaz (wk), Omair Yousuf, Salman Agha, Irfan Khan, Khushdil Shah, Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Sufiyan Muqeem.
Pakistan’s team combination appears to be fairly stable, as they have given new players opportunities and have a decent mix of senior and young players in the squad.
NZ vs PAK Dream11 Prediction Impact Players List
New Zealand impact players
- Michael Bracewell
- Daryl Mitchell
- Will O’Rourke
Michael Bracewell is the most experienced all-rounder in the current New Zealand team, and he will also captain the team in the T20I series. brings his skill set of spin bowling as well as lower batting in the death overs, making him one of New Zealand’s most impactful players.
Daryl Mitchell is also one of the most experienced and reliable options from New Zealand, capable of delivering clutch performances with both bat and ball for his team, which can help the Kiwis win matches.
Will O’Rourke is a new addition to the NZ squad, having previously played in the Champions Trophy 2025, where he showed an outstanding performance with the ball and demonstrated his lethal bowling performances for his team, resulting in NZ’s triumph in many matches.
Pakistan impact players
- Salman Agha
- Khushdil Shah
- Shaheen Shah Afridi
Salman Agha has been in excellent form recently, scoring crucial runs in the Champions Trophy 2025 and demonstrating his ability to play aggressive cricket under pressure. Including outstanding performances in the tri-nation series with New Zealand and South Africa. In addition to batting, he occasionally bowls as a right-arm off-spinner, giving him an advantage to the squad.
Khushdil Shah is another brilliant player of the Pakistan team. The left-handed all-rounder bats in the middle order and could provide key innings in the middle order. He also serves as a left-arm spinner when necessary, frequently delivering breakthroughs at crucial times. Khushdil’s all-round qualities make him one of the dependable players from the current Pakistan squad, and he might play a key role in for his team in this T20I series.
Shaheen Afridi is one of Pakistan’s finest bowlers, having performed well in the Champions Trophy. He will be one of Pakistan’s primary bowlers in the upcoming T20I against New Zealand, looking to make an impression with both the new ball and in the death overs.
Highest run scorers: Salman Agha
Highest wicket taker: Will O’Rourke
Hot Picks for NZ vs PAK Dream11 Prediction and Fantasy Cricket Tips
New Zealand hot pick: Michael Bracewell
Pakistan hot pick: Khushdil Shah
Michaell Bracewell is a quality all-rounder for the New Zealand team who has the potential to affect the game with her all-round and leadership qualities, making him a hot pick for the Kiwi side in this match.
Khushdil Shah is not a very experienced player, but he displayed impressive cricketing skills that helped Pakistan’s team in critical situations. Whether with the bat or the ball, he always showed a great intent on the field, making him the hot pick from Pakistan’s side in the first T20I.
Captaincy Picks for NZ vs PAK Dream11 Prediction
Daryl Mitchell is the most dependable player from the New Zealand team because he has the calmness and composure that allows him to play important long innings with the bat and then take a charge in the death overs, putting opponents bowlers under pressure, and his ability to deliver promising performances with the ball adds up the brownie points, making him the top contender for the NZ Dream11 captaincy.
Salman Agha has been in excellent form, demonstrating his all-rounder abilities in recent matches. He has shown some promising performances with the bat in the middle order for his team, and his right arm-off spin comes in handy whenever Pakistan needs a breakthrough, which is why he has been chosen as the captaincy pick for the Pakistan team.
| Daryl Mitchell (NZ) |
| Salman Agha (PAK) |
Top Picks for NZ vs PAK Dream11 Prediction
Will O’Rourke is a young and fiery pacer from New Zealand who delivered an outstanding fast bowling performance in the Champions Trophy 2025, where his pace and tight lengths caused many batsmen to struggle, and we expect the same from him in this T20I series, which is why he is the top pick from New Zealand in this match.
Khushdil Shah is another great all-rounder in the Pakistan team, with a variety of cricketing shots that allow him to score runs all over the ground, particularly in the middle or death overs. In addition, his slower left-arm off-spin extends his team’s bowling options.
| Will O’Rourke (NZ) |
| Khushdil Shah (PAK) |
Budget Picks for NZ vs PAK Dream11 Prediction
Ish Sodhi is an experienced leg spin bowler for New Zealand who has been with the team for many years. He performs magnificently with his spin mystery, where he uses his variation very cleverly that the batsman cannot read, which helps him take wickets, which is why he is the top budget pick that will help you earn so many points.
Irfan Khan is a right-handed batsman who can score runs in the middle order with an explosive strike rate, allowing his team to gain momentum in important overs, which is why he is the leading contender for Pakistan’s budget pick.
| Ish Sodhi (NZ) |
| Irfan Khan (PAK) |
NZ vs PAK Captain and Vice-Captain Choices
Captain Options
Daryl Mitchell is the perfect leadership option because of his ability to perform reliably with the bat and the ball. He can have a major impact on the game with important runs or taking crucial wickets because of his versatility in a variety of roles and expertise under pressure.
Salman Agha is a serious contender for captaincy because of his aggressive batting style and recent form. In addition to his occasional off-spin, he can anchor the innings or accelerate when necessary, which enhances his all-around contribution.
Vice-Captain Options
Michael Bracewell, the captain of New Zealand, offers numerous scoring opportunities thanks to his dual abilities as a reliable lower-order batting and spin-bowling all-rounder. He is even more likely to make a significant contribution because of his leadership position.
Khushdil Shah is a wise choice for vice captain because of his capacity to steady the middle order and produce significant breakthroughs as a left-arm spinner. Because of his adaptability, he can excel in a variety of match situations, increasing his potential for fantasy points.
| Captains | Daryl Mitchell & Salman Agha |
| Vice-Captains | Michael Bracewell & Khushdil Shah |
NZ vs PAK Dream11 Prediction Team 1
This team maintains a balance between versatility and experience. Tim Seifert’s ability to score runs quickly makes him a dependable choice for wicketkeeping. Mark Chapman and Daryl Mitchell are two reliable choices in the batting unit that can either accelerate or anchor the innings. James Neesham, Agha Salman, and Michael Bracewell form a solid all-around core that offers depth in bowling and batting.
With the pace of Shaheen Afridi, the aggression of Will O’Rourke, and the spin of Ish Sodhi, the bowling attack is well-rounded and offers a variety of threats to take wickets.
- Keeper: Tim Seifert
- Batters: Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Imran Khan
- All-rounders: Michael Bracewell, Agha Salman, James Neesham, Khushdil Shah
- Bowlers: Shaheen Shah Afridi, Will O’Rourke, Ish Sodhi
NZ vs PAK Dream11 Prediction Team 2
Tim Seifert led the wicket-keeping department. The batting lineup includes Omair Yousuf, a promising player, alongside Daryl Mitchell and Imran Khan, adding stability. The all-round department is stacked with impactful players like Michael Bracewell, Agha Salman, Shadab Khan, and Khushdil Shah, enhancing the team’s flexibility. The bowling unit is led by Shaheen Afridi, with Will O’Rourke’s pace and Ish Sodhi’s spin providing variety and control
- Keeper: Tim Seifert
- Batters: Daryl Mitchell, Omair Yousuf, Imran Khan
- All-rounders: Michael Bracewell, Agha Salman, Shadab Khan, Khushdil Shah
- Bowlers: Shaheen Shah Afridi, Will O’Rourke, Ish Sodhi
NZ vs PAK Dream11 Prediction Today (Match No. 01) Pakistan tour of New Zealand 2025
Players to Avoid
The right-arm medium pace option from New Zealand, Ben Sears, has little chance of playing in the first T20I of this series because there are already a number of good pace options for Kiwis, such as O’Rourke, Kyle Jamieson, and Jacob Duffy. Therefore, avoid picking him up for your Dream11 team because he won’t be in the playing XI.
Jahanadad Khan is a talented all-rounder from Pakistan who probably won’t get a chance to play in the first T20I match because there are already good all-round options available in the form of Salman Agha, Shadab Khan, and Khushdil Shah, who will be in the playing XI.
| Players | Dream11 Credits | Dream11 Points |
| Ben Sears | 6.5 Credits | – |
| Jahandad Khan (PAK) | 7.0 Credits | – |
NZ vs PAK Dream11 Prediction Today (Match No. 01) Pakistan tour of New Zealand 2025 Expert Advice
Captaincy Choice
Daryl Mitchell’s ability to contribute consistently with both bat and ball makes him a trustworthy captaincy selection. His experience and all-round ability improve his chances of collecting significant Dream11 points.
Vice-Captaincy Choice
As a middle-order batsman along with a spin option, Khushdil Shah is a valuable vice-captain option, and his all-around skills offer numerous scoring possibilities.
Punt Picks
James Neesham & Shadab Khan are the risk-reward choices who can turn the game with strong performances. Shadab’s versatility and Neesham’s power hitting make them the perfect surprise options for extra points.
With 1 wicket keeper, 3 batters, 4 all-rounders, and 3 bowlers, this lineup guarantees a balanced team. All-rounders maximize fantasy returns by contributing to both bowling and batting, which increases point-scoring potential.
| Captaincy Choice | Daryl Mitchell (NZ-W) |
| Vice-Captaincy Choice | Khushdil Shah (PAK-W) |
| Punt Picks | James Nessham & Shahdab Khan |
| Dream11 Combination | 1-3-4-3 |
Disclaimer: This team is based on the analysis, Calculated odds, and Past Experience of the author. While selecting your team, consider the analysis only as supporting data while making your own decision. Sportsdunia does not work with insider news and will not be responsible for any monetary loss for the users following the analysis.