While all the other teams are getting acclimatized to the conditions and training for their upcoming matches, Pakistan are debating their opening combination with many fans and experts feeling Babar Azam is not the right person to open the innings.
Pakistan and New Zealand will face off in the opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy at the National Stadium in Karachi. Their clash in Group A will be their third meeting with a fortnight after their twin defeats to the Black Caps in the ODI Tri-series, which New Zealand won by beating Pakistan in the final.
On the eve of the clash, Pakistan ODI captain Mohammad Rizwan was questioned on who will open the inning with Fakhar Zaman.
If you look at the conditions and analyze what is best for the team, then it is Babar who should open.
It’s not that we don’t have options, we do have. But if you look at the conditions, Babar is the right man to open. We are not sure about reports of Babar not opening the batting. We want genuine openers, but given the needs of the team, we thought that Babar should open as he is a technically strong batter. He is our opener.
Rizwan emphasized the need for greater awareness and professionalism in the team’s approach in high-stakes tournaments.
He addressed Pakistan’s fluctuating results in global tournaments as the men in Green have had mixed fortunes in ICC events. Since winning the Champions Trophy in 2017, Pakistan have reached the T20 World Cup semifinal in 2021 and the final in 2022 but has otherwise struggled in ICC events, often exiting in the group stages.
On a personal level, I think we need to improve our awareness and professionalism. Even now, we have players from whom our people might have less hope but the outside world is watching our players and talking about them.
Pakistan will be hoping to exploit the home conditions. However, they had found the going tough against the Kiwis in their last encounter and lost by five wickets. Their spinners failed to apply the brakes as Daryl Mitchell and Tom Latham shared a crucial partnership to help New Zealand to victory in the Tri-series final. Earlier, New Zealand came up with a disciplined bowling effort led by Will O’Rourke (4-43) to restrict Pakistan to 242.
The Kiwis have a strong, balanced side with experienced batters and white-ball experts like Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, and Kane Williamson who are capable of changing the complexion of a match with their explosive batting. Rachin Ravindra is still recuperating from an injury he suffered in the Tri-series opener, but his return will further strengthen their batting.
The Black Caps are the in-form team, having beaten both Pakistan and South Africa in the ODI Tri-series before the Champions Trophy. Phillips and Kane Williamson have each scored a century in their first two matches in the tri-series, while Mitchell, too, has looked in good form with the bat. Pacers Matt Henry and Will O'Rourke are capable of causing early damage. In Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell, they have two experienced spinners who can control the narrative in the middle overs.
Pakistan enjoy a slight edge in the overall head-to-head series, winning 62 games and losing 53 among 119 matches played between the two teams. One match was tied and three ended in no results. Pakistan have a bigger edge when playing a home and will be hoping to exploit the familiar conditions.
However, New Zealand are currently in good form and enjoy a 3-2 edge in the last five matches between the two teams. In their last five matches, New Zealand have a 4-1 score while Pakistan are 3-2.
Meanwhile, New Zealand got a boost when the Event Technical Committee of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 approved Kyle Jamieson as a replacement for Lockie Ferguson in the squad. Thirty-year-old Jamieson, who has played 13 ODIs, was named as a replacement after Ferguson was ruled out due to an injury to his right foot.
Their overall strength and balance give New Zealand the edge, but Pakistan are capable of springing a surprise as on their day, they can beat the strongest team, while on their off day, they can lose to anybody.
Squads
Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (captain & wicket-keeper), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan.
New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (captain), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham (wicket-keeper), Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Nathan Smith, Kane Williamson, Will Young.
Time: Pakistan vs New Zealand is scheduled to begin at 12:00 PM local time (9:00 am GMT).
Broadcasting details: Pakistan vs New Zealand will be broadcasted on Star Sports Network in India.
Live Streaming: Pakistan vs New Zealand will be live streamed in India on Jio Hotstar.
