The upcoming Champions Trophy opener features Pakistan, the defending champions, facing New Zealand in Karachi. Both teams recently competed in an ODI tri-series, with New Zealand winning the final. Historically, both teams have showcased strengths and flaws, finishing just outside knockout spots in the last two World Cups. Key players include Pakistan’s Babar Azam, aiming to break a 21-innings century drought, and New Zealand’s spinners, who excelled in the tri-series. Karachi’s pitch has supported batting while challenging bowlers. With warm weather expected, the match promises an engaging start to the tournament amidst heightened ODI enthusiasm.
Overview: Pakistan vs New Zealand (once more)
In an era where ODIs are often overlooked, the elder format is revered for its legacy and wisdom, while the newer formats fiercely demand attention. Regardless, global tournaments remind us of the ODI’s thrilling nature, evident in recent World Cups that delivered numerous memorable moments, showcasing the unique skills this format can both condense and expand.
With the limited action we’ve witnessed over the last 18 months, our craving for ODIs should be heightened, despite the Champions Trophy’s awkward placement within the ICC calendar. Since Sarfaraz Ahmed hoisted this trophy eight years ago, the memory of its existence has waned, until now, as it’s back in the spotlight.
Starting with Pakistan, the reigning champions and co-hosts, they will face old rivals in the tournament’s opening match. Since the start of 2019, no team has participated in more ODIs in this country than New Zealand, who have played 11 matches and come into this Champions Trophy just days after clinching the title in an ODI tri-series against Pakistan. Karachi was the venue for that final, and it will host this opener as well.
It’s telling that New Zealand and Pakistan finished fourth and fifth in both the 2019 and 2023 World Cup league tables, the former qualifying just above the knockout line while Pakistan narrowly missed out. Both teams showcased potential title-winning qualities, offset by weaknesses that could undermine their campaigns, making this clash an ideal kickoff.
Recent Performance
Pakistan LWLWW (last five completed ODIs, most recent first) New Zealand WWWLW
Key Player
After going 21 innings without an ODI hundred, Babar Azam finds himself at a crossroads. While such a streak isn’t unusual for many batters, Babar is not just any player. His run includes only two low scores, indicating he hasn’t struggled significantly, yet a substantial innings to kick off a global tournament at home could be immensely uplifting for Pakistan. Now batting at the top of the order, a significant score would also solidify any uncertainties about their batting lineup.
In the recent tri-series, the performance of New Zealand’s spinners was noteworthy, achieving a combined economy rate of 4.41. In comparison, their counterparts from Pakistan and South Africa had economy rates of 5.67 and 5.94, respectively. This reflects the prowess of Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell, who both took five wickets at nearly identical averages and economy rates. Together, they form one of the most formidable spin duos in this tournament: a left-arm fingerspinner and an offspinner, both of whom can also contribute with the bat.
Team Updates: Rauf’s Return for Pakistan
Having missed the recent ODI tri-series due to a side strain suffered in the first match against New Zealand, Haris Rauf has been practicing in the nets ahead of the Champions Trophy. Pakistan’s captain, Mohammad Rizwan, is optimistic about Rauf’s fitness for the opening match, allowing them to select their strongest XI.
Pakistan (predicted lineup): 1 Fakhar Zaman, 2 Babar Azam, 3 Saud Shakeel, 4 Mohammad Rizwan (captain & wicketkeeper), 5 Salman Agha, 6 Tayyab Tahir, 7 Khushdil Shah, 8 Shaheen Shah Afridi, 9 Naseem Shah, 10 Haris Rauf, 11 Abrar Ahmed.
New Zealand enters the Champions Trophy short-handed, missing two of their original fast bowlers, Lockie Ferguson and Ben Sears. There’s uncertainty surrounding Rachin Ravindra’s fitness after he was hit on the head during the tri-series, though he has been seen batting in training sessions leading up to the tournament. A decision on his participation will be made after Tuesday’s training session, with Will Young expected to partner Devon Conway at the top if Ravindra cannot play. Ferguson’s substitute, Kyle Jamieson, will not arrive in time for the opener.
New Zealand (projected lineup): 1 Rachin Ravindra/Will Young, 2 Devon Conway, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Daryl Mitchell, 5 Tom Latham (wicketkeeper), 6 Glenn Phillips, 7 Michael Bracewell, 8 Mitchell Santner (captain), 9 Matt Henry, 10 Jacob Duffy, 11 Will O’Rourke.
Pitch and Conditions
Karachi hosted the final two matches of the recent tri-series, which exhibited stark differences. On February 12, South Africa set a record total of 352, only to have it eclipsed a few hours later as Pakistan chased it down with an over to spare. Just days later, Will O’Rourke took four wickets, and the ever-reliable Santner recorded 2 for 20 in his ten overs, leading to Pakistan’s collapse at 242—a score New Zealand comfortably chased down with five wickets to spare.
What kind of pitch awaits at the National Stadium for Wednesday? Recent history indicates a testing ground for pace bowlers in ODIs, evidenced by their average of 33.67 and economy rate of 6.02 over the past decade. While spinners traditionally face hardships at several venues, Karachi provides a better environment for them—with averages of 45.50 and a rate of 5.11 per over.
Historical data shows that pitches in global tournaments typically favor batsmen while still allowing for bowlers to make an impact; the last three ICC ODI events—the 2017 Champions Trophy, along with the 2019 and 2023 World Cups—culminated in overall run rates of 5.54, 5.59, and 5.82 respectively.
The weather in Karachi on Wednesday is anticipated to be warm, with a high of 29 degrees Celsius and minimal chances of rain.
Facts and Figures
Both New Zealand (2000) and Pakistan (2017) triumphed over India in the finals to secure their respective Champions Trophy victories.
Since 2023, New Zealand has faced Pakistan 11 times in ODIs, resulting in a close contest with New Zealand winning five and losing six; they’ve claimed victory in three of their last four encounters.
Among the 47 New Zealand players who have achieved 1000 ODI runs, Daryl Mitchell boasts the highest batting average (50.42). His strike rate of 97.89 is also notable, surpassing all five batters above him on that list who average below 30.
Among bowlers from the eight participating teams, Shaheen Shah Afridi (21 wickets at 22.04) is the leading wicket-taker in ODIs since the conclusion of the 2023 World Cup.
Babar, Fakhar Zaman, and Faheem Ashraf are the only players from Pakistan’s squad who participated in their triumph in the 2017 Champions Trophy.
Comments
“We are all on equal footing, regardless of whether someone is a seasoned player or new to the scene. Senior players feel heightened pressure, and we hold ourselves to high standards during critical moments like this one, which is as significant as it gets.” Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan
“Having experience in local conditions provides an advantage. We have been fortunate to be here for a few weeks and have played quite a few matches in Pakistan over the past three years.” New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter Tom Latham
Karthik Krishnaswamy serves as an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo
