New Zealand will open their campaign in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 by taking on Pakistan. The game is scheduled to be played on Wednesday (February 19) at the National Stadium in Karachi.
New Zealand recently beat Pakistan twice in the ODI tri-series. They thrashed Pakistan by 78 runs in the league stage before inflicting a five-wicket defeat on them in the final.
The Black Caps will be the favorites to win the upcoming game as well. So as New Zealand gears up to take on Pakistan, we are taking a look at the New Zealand Playing 11.
New Zealand Playing 11 vs Pakistan – Match 1, ICC Champions Trophy 2025:
Openers: Will Young, Devon Conway
With doubts over Rachin Ravindra’s participation, Devon Conway and Will Young are set to be the openers in the New Zealand Playing 11 for the upcoming game against Pakistan.
Young will be under pressure to deliver after failing to impress in the tri-series. In four innings, he registered scores of 4, 19, 5 and 15. He will be desperate to turn things around in the forthcoming tournament.
Unlike Young, Conway looked in great touch, scoring 97, 48, and 66 in three innings. With form on his side, the onus will be on Conway to give New Zealand a good start with the bat.
Middle-order batsmen and allrounders: Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c)
Kane Williamson will be the main man in New Zealand’s middle-order. The former New Zealand captain was in fine form during the tri-series. He scored 225 runs with the help of a century and a fifty and finished the series as the second-highest run-scorer. He will look to perform in the same manner in the upcoming game as well.
Daryl Mitchell is set to bat at number four for New Zealand. He was also in good form during the tri-series, scoring 148 runs. He also scored a fifty in the final.
Tom Latham is also set to be named in the New Zealand Playing 11 for the Champions Trophy opener. The wicketkeeper-batsman finished the tri-series on a good note, scoring 56 runs in the final to help his team clinch the trophy.
New Zealand are set to have three all-rounders in the New Zealand playing 11. Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, and Mitchell Santner are set to be the three all-rounders. All three players impressed during the tri-series and will look to deliver in the Champions Trophy as well.
Phillips scored a match-winning century against Pakistan in the first game while Santner and Bracewell picked up 5 wickets each in the series.
Bowlers: Matt Henry Jacob Duffy, William ORourke
New Zealand are set to have three specialist pacers in the team for the upcoming game. While Matt Henry did not play the tri-series final, he is set to lead the pace attack for New Zealand against Pakistan. Henry will replace Nathan Smith in the New Zealand Playing 11.
The other two pacers in the team are expected to be Jacob Duffy and William ORourke. ORourke had a brilliant outing in the final, taking four wickets while Duffy claimed one wicket.
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