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.

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.