In the lead-up to the ICC Champions Trophy, Pakistan will host New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nation ODI Series starting on February 8th. Four matches, including the final, will be played. Teams will play each other once, with the top two advancing to the final. The first two ODIs will be played in Lahore, while the third ODI and the final will be staged in Karachi.
With no warm-up matches scheduled for the Champions Trophy, the Tri-Series serves as a preparation for the marquee event.
Witnessing a truly special evening at the Gaddafi Stadium 💫
Fans made the inauguration ceremony a memorable occasion! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/liLw4ZwI8s
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) February 7, 2025
Match Details:
Pakistan vs New Zealand, 1st ODI
Venue: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Date & Time: February 8th at 2:30 PM IST and 2:00 PM Local Time
Live Telecast & Streaming: Sony Sports TEN 5 & FanCode
What is the Pitch Report for PAK vs NZ, Tri-Series, 1st ODI?
The venue hosted the last ODI during the Asia Cup in September 2023. The deck is friendly for batting and likely to remain the same for the entire match. Part-timers and spinners will be more useful on this deck than regular bowlers. Bowling first is a safe option here.
Recent form:
Pakistan: Won, Won, Won, Won, Won
New Zealand: Lost, Won, Won, NR, Lost
PAK vs NZ, Tri-Series, 1st ODI Probable Winners:
Pakistan are expected to win this match.
What is the Expected, Probable Playing XIs for PAK vs NZ, Tri-Series, 1st ODI?
Pakistan
Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Rizwan (c & wk), Saud Shakeel, Agha Salman, Faheem Ashraf / Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.
New Zealand
Devon Conway, Will Young, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Michael Bracewell / Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner (c), Nathan Smith / Ben Sears, Matt Henry, William O’Rourke.
Former PCB chairpersons Najam Sethi and Zaka Ashraf laud the remarkable transformation of the Gaddafi Stadium in record time. pic.twitter.com/bqCzkRIs33
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) February 7, 2025
Injury Updates:
Pakistan: Saim Ayub has been ruled out of the Tri-Series and the Champions Trophy due to an ankle injury.
New Zealand: Lockie Ferguson is in doubt for the Tri-Series and also for the Champions Trophy due to a hamstring injury he sustained during the ILT20.
What are the Fantasy Cricket Top Picks, Players for PAK vs NZ, Tri-Series, 1st ODI?
Top Pick – Batter
Kane Williamson is a technically sound batter, who adapts well to any conditions. In 165 ODIs, he made 6810 runs at an average of 48.64 with the best score of 148.
Top Pick – All-Rounder
Agha Salman is a solid middle-order batter and an equally better off-spin bowler. In 30 ODIs, he made 696 runs and picked up 15 wickets.
Top Pick – Bowler
Abrar Ahmed is the only genuine spinner in the Pakistan line-up. He causes problems with his mystery skills. In 4 ODIs, he claimed 10 wickets with the best figures of 4 for 33.
The ODI Tri-Series gets underway today against the hosts Pakistan in Lahore! Watch play LIVE from 10pm NZT via the Sports Central Official YouTube channel | https://t.co/wWpjR7ilQq 📺 LIVE scoring at https://t.co/3YsfR1Y3Sm or the NZC app 📲 #3Nations1Trophy #CricketNation pic.twitter.com/QC4ntN7ioU
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) February 8, 2025
Top Pick – Wicketkeeper
Mohammad Rizwan is a busy cricketer who looks to take quick ones and twos. His last 7 innings ODI series are 53, 80, 1, 37, 19*, 30*, and 44.
X-Factor:
What are the Fantasy Suggested Teams for PAK vs NZ, Tri-Series, 1st ODI?
1. Tom Latham, Mohammad Rizwan, Kane Williamson, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Will Young (vc), Agha Salman (c), Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf.
2. Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Daryl Mitchell (c), Rachin Ravindra, Fakhar Zaman, Agha Salman, Mitchell Santner, Glenn Phillips, Nathan Smith, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf (vc).
At work in the Lahore sun ☀️ #CricketNation pic.twitter.com/nts6pE3tIi
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) February 7, 2025
Pre-Match Analysis:
Pakistan are in good shape with the recent outcomes in the 50-over format, winning the last 3 bilateral series against South Africa (3-0), Zimbabwe (2-1), and Australia (2-1), interestingly all of them have come away from home. Men in Green are fielding a similar squad in the Tri-Series that was announced for the Champions Trophy 2025. Saim Ayub, who was on the rise at the biggest stage had to miss out on the marquee event due to an ankle injury, and his fellow opening partner Abdullah Shafique was omitted following his poor form. Fakhar Zaman, Khushdil Shah, and Faheem Ashraf are back in the squad. Abrar Ahmed is the only specialist spinner in the mix, he will be assisted by part-timers, Khushdil Shah and Agha Salman. They have again preferred the fast-bowling trio of Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf. Babar Azam might have to open the innings alongside Fakhar Zaman, while either Saud Shakeel or Kamran Ghulam will bat at No.3.
New Zealand who have added Jacob Duffy for the Tri-series to manage the workload of Lockie Ferguson, might have to force the change for the Champions Trophy as the latter suffered a hamstring injury during the ILT20. Duffy is likely to stay with the side for the global event. Apart from that they are fielding the same squad for the Tri-Series and the Champions Trophy. Mitchell Santner, who was announced the full-time white-ball skipper is set for his first major ICC event. Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, and Mark Chapman are the frontline batters. Tom Latham will keep wickets and bat in the middle order. Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, and Michael Bracewell are the spin all-rounders. They have heavily invested in the seam options and named as many as 6 of them including Matt Henry, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, William O’Rourke, Jacob Duffy, and Lockie Ferguson (subject to availibility).
