NZ vs PAK Dream11 Prediction: Dream11 Team Today, Fantasy Cricket Tips, Playing XI, Pitch Report, Injury Update- ICC Champions Trophy 2025

New Zealand vs Pakistan Match Preview:

The Champions Trophy 2025 is set to commence on February 19, 2025, with an exciting battle between New Zealand and Pakistan at the National Bank Stadium, Karachi. The match will start at 7:30 PM IST. Indian cricket fans can watch the live action on Star Sports Network channels, while those preferring to stream can watch the match on the JioCinema app.

Match Info:

NZ vs PAK Head-to-Head Records in Champions Trophy: (Total matches played: 03)

NZ vs PAK Weather Report & Pitch Report:

The weather conditions at this ground are perfect for cricket. On match day, the temperature is forecasted to be around 30°C with clear skies. No bad weather is predicted, which is good news for both teams and players as a full match will happen. Looking at the wicket, it appears very batting-friendly with more runs likely.

The fresh and bouncy wicket will allow the ball to come onto the bat easily, making strokeplay efficient for batters. The first inning average score on this ground is 237 runs, so the team batting first needs to score at least 237 runs to make the match interesting. Due to the batting-friendly conditions, all batters have a good chance to score big runs on this ground.

Record of chasing teams on this stadium:

At this venue, batting second would be the key to success. 77 ODI matches played here, out of that 41 matches were won by teams batting second. Winning the toss and choosing to bat second is crucial, as the winning percentage after winning the toss is around 53%. Therefore, the toss may be an important factor in deciding the course of the match, and captains should keep this in mind while playing at this venue.

NZ vs PAK toss prediction: Pakistan to win the toss and choose to field first

The Karachi National Bank Stadium has been renewed, and both teams will play on a new pitch in the first match. We predict Pakistan to win the toss and choose to field first, as both teams are unfamiliar with this wicket. By fielding first, Pakistan can understand how the wicket is behaving and take advantage in the second innings, as the ball will come more easily onto the bat as the game progresses.

Pakistan has quality pacers who can put pressure in the first innings and take advantage of the fresh and bouncy wicket, including Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah. They also have skilled batters capable of chasing down targets in the second innings, such as Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Salman Agha.

New Zealand vs Pakistan ICC Champions Trophy Squads:

New Zealand Full Squad:

Mitchell Santner ©, Will Young, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Michael Bracewell, Daryl Mitchell, Nathan Smith, Glenn Philips,Mark Chapman, Devon Conway (wk), Tom Latham (wk), Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Will O’Rourke.

Pakistan Full Squad:

Mohammad Rizwan © (wk), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Fakhar zaman, Usman Khan, Tayyab Tahir, Salman Agha, Kamran Ghulam, Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi.

NZ vs PAK Dream11 Prediction Playing 11:

New Zealand’s Playing 11:

Rachin Ravindra, Decon Conway, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Philips, Michael Bracewll, Mitchell Santner (wk), Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Will O’Rourke.

Based on New Zealand’s recent success in the tri-nation series in Pakistan, their playing XI has been strategically crafted to excel in subcontinental conditions. The opening partnership of Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway provides a solid foundation, with Ravindra’s left-hand batting and useful spin bowling offering crucial versatility.

Kane Williamson’s return to the lineup adds invaluable experience and technical skills at number 3, while Daryl Mitchell has proven himself as a reliable middle-order anchor.

The middle order is strengthened by Tom Latham and Glenn Phillips, who both offer different dimensions to the batting lineup – Latham with his ability to play spin well and Phillips providing explosive power hitting capabilities. Michael Bracewell and Mitchell Santner form a valuable spin-bowling all-rounder duo, particularly effective on Pakistani pitches as demonstrated during the tri-series.

The pace attack of Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, and Will O’Rourke provides a good mix of experience and raw pace. Henry offers control with the new ball, Ferguson brings express pace in the middle overs, while O’Rourke has shown promise as a death overs specialist. This combination worked particularly well during their tri-series victory, where they successfully adapted to Pakistani conditions and outperformed both Pakistan and South Africa.

Their triumph in the tri-series has given them valuable insights into local conditions and opposition strengths, making this lineup especially well-suited for matches in Pakistan. The balance of five specialist batters, three all-rounders, and three specialist bowlers provides multiple options in both batting and bowling departments, which proved crucial in their recent series victory.

Pakistan’s Playing 11:

Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan © (wk), Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf.

The suggested Pakistani lineup presents a strong combination of experience and form. Opening with Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam provides a perfect blend of aggression and technical excellence. Fakhar’s ability to take on bowlers early combined with Babar’s classical stroke play makes them a formidable opening pair.

The middle order looks solid with Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan, who brings both wicketkeeping expertise and consistent batting performances. Salman Agha’s impressive performance in the tri-series with 219 runs, which justifies his inclusion in the middle order. His ability to handle both pace and spin makes him particularly valuable in the middle overs.

The inclusion of Tayyab Tahir and Khushdil Shah adds depth to the batting lineup, while Faheem Ashraf provides crucial all-round capabilities. The bowling attack is particularly strong with the trio of Shaheen Shah Afridi (who you noted took 6 wickets in the tri-series), Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf. This pace combination offers variety with Shaheen’s left-arm swing, Naseem’s control, and Rauf’s express pace.

The team appears well-balanced with multiple batting options extending deep into the order, while maintaining a potent bowling attack. The selection also suggests careful consideration of the home conditions, with players who have recent experience and success in similar environments.

NZ vs PAK Dream11 Prediction Impact Players List:

New Zealand impact players:

• Kane Williamson
• William O’Rourke
• Rachin Ravindra

In the recent tri-nation series hosted by Pakistan featuring South Africa and New Zealand, the Kiwis emerged as champions, with several players making significant impacts. Kane Williamson demonstrated exceptional form, scoring 225 runs in just 3 innings at an impressive average of 112. His dominance against all bowlers makes him a crucial player to watch in the upcoming match.

William O’Rourke emerged as another standout performer, displaying exceptional bowling prowess with 6 wickets in 3 innings to claim the top wicket-taker position in the series. His performance in the first match will be particularly interesting, as Pakistani batters will be eager to challenge his fiery bowling and score runs against him.

Rachin Ravindra rounds out New Zealand’s impact players. Known for his versatility across all departments, Ravindra unfortunately suffered an injury in the opening match of the tri-nation series. However, he’s expected to make a strong comeback in the Champions Trophy 2025. The New Zealand team has high expectations for his contributions in both batting and bowling, making him a key impact player choice.

These three players will be crucial to New Zealand’s campaign, each bringing unique strengths that could significantly influence match outcomes.

Pakistan impact players:

• Salman Agha
• Shaheen Shah Afridi
• Babar Azam

Salman Agha emerged as a consistent performer in the tri-nation series, scoring 219 runs in 3 innings at an impressive average of 73. His ability to single-handedly guide Pakistan to the final through his batting abilities, combined with an excellent blend of power and timing, establishes him as a crucial impact player for Pakistan in this Champions Trophy.

Shaheen Shah Afridi, renowned worldwide for his exceptional bowling skills, continues to be a formidable force. His ability to swing the new ball at considerable pace often leaves batsmen struggling at the crease. In the tri-nation series, he claimed 6 wickets in 3 innings at an average of 33, demonstrating his current excellent form and securing his position as an impact player.

Babar Azam is one of the most important players in Pakistan’s batting lineup. He is an elegant top-order batsman equipped with superior technique and a comprehensive skill set. His ability to influence match outcomes through his batting and his reputation as a big-match player who thrives on significant occasions makes him a key member of Pakistan’s Champions Trophy campaign. His presence in the lineup adds considerable strength to Pakistan’s batting resources, making him the key player choice.

NZ vs PAK Dream11 Team Today Stats:

In the tri-nation series final between Pakistan and New Zealand, which now gains additional significance as these teams prepare to meet in the Champions Trophy 2025 opener, several players delivered notable performances. Mohammad Rizwan displayed great intent with the bat, scoring 46 runs from 76 balls, helping Pakistan reach a respectable total. He found crucial support in Salman Agha, the tournament’s top scorer for Pakistan, who contributed 45 runs from 65 balls, providing stability during a batting collapse and helping Pakistan build their innings.

For New Zealand, William O’Rourke delivered an outstanding bowling performance, claiming 4 wickets in 9.3 overs with an excellent economy rate of 4.52, which kept Pakistan’s score in check. In the chase, experienced middle-order batsman Daryl Mitchell took charge, crafting a match-winning innings of 56 runs from 64 balls, guiding the Kiwis to victory in 45.2 overs. These performances from both teams’ key players in their last encounter set an interesting stage for their upcoming Champions Trophy clash.

Highest run scorers: Kane Williamson (NZ)

Highest wicket taker: Shaheen Shah Afridi (PAK)

Hot Picks for PAK vs NZ Dream11 Prediction and Fantasy Cricket Tips:

Rachin Ravindra stands out as New Zealand’s prime choice. Despite his injury setback in the tri-series, Ravindra’s all-round capabilities make him an invaluable fantasy pick. His ability to contribute with both bat and ball provides multiple point-scoring opportunities.

As an opener who can also bowl crucial middle overs, he offers excellent value and the potential for high fantasy points through runs, wickets, and catching opportunities.

For Pakistan, Mohammad Rizwan emerges as the standout fantasy pick. His recent performance in the tri-series final, where he scored a crucial 46 runs from 76 balls, demonstrates his ability to anchor the innings. As a wicketkeeper-batsman, Rizwan offers dual point-scoring potential through both batting and keeping duties.

His consistency in the middle order and ability to adapt to different match situations makes him a reliable choice. In ODI cricket especially, his positioning in the batting order and wicket-keeping responsibilities provide numerous opportunities to accumulate fantasy points through runs, catches, and stumpings.

Both players are particularly valuable in fantasy cricket due to their multidimensional roles and consistent performances at the international level.

New Zealand hot pick: Rachin Ravindra

Pakistan hot pick: Mohammad Rizwan

Captaincy Picks for NZ vs PAK Dream11 Prediction:

Kane Williamson emerged as the prime captaincy choice from New Zealand, particularly following his outstanding performance in the tri-series where he scored 225 runs in just 3 innings at a remarkable average of 112. His technical excellence, ability to pace innings according to match situations, and vast experience in subcontinental conditions make him a reliable captaincy option.

Williamson’s methodical approach to batting, combined with his consistency against both pace and spin, positions him as a high-scoring fantasy option capable of playing long innings.

Babar Azam stands out as Pakistan’s captaincy pick, bringing his classical batting technique and ability to dominate in home conditions. His status as a big-match player and proven track record in crucial games makes him an excellent choice for fantasy captaincy. Babar’s elegant stroke play, particularly his cover drives and work through the leg side, coupled with his ability to accelerate when needed, provides a solid foundation for high fantasy scores.

His positioning at the top of the order gives him the maximum opportunity to face deliveries and accumulate runs and also his tremendous experience in playing the ICC tournaments making him a prime candidate for fantasy captaincy.

Both players share similar characteristics as technically sound batsmen who can anchor an innings while maintaining a healthy scoring rate, making them ideal choices for fantasy team captaincy. Their ability to score big scores and their consistency at the international level provide fantasy players with reliable options for multiplying points through captaincy selection.

Top Picks for NZ vs PAK Dream11 Prediction:

Based on the recent tri-nation series performances, William O’Rourke and Salman Agha stand out as excellent Dream11 picks for the upcoming match. O’Rourke has proven to be a lethal bowling force, leading the wicket charts with 6 wickets in 3 matches and showing exceptional form in the final where he took 4 wickets with a miserly economy rate of 4.52. His ability to consistently pick up wickets makes him a reliable point-scorer. Meanwhile, Salman Agha has been in phenomenal batting form, accumulating 219 runs in just 3 innings at an outstanding average of 73. His ability to play long innings and anchor the Pakistan batting lineup, combined with his recent form in the tri-series final where he scored a crucial 45 runs during a difficult phase, makes him a smart choice for fantasy points.

Budget Picks for PAK vs NZ ICC Champions Trophy Dream11 Prediction:

Michael Bracewell and Khushdil Shah are indeed valuable budget picks for Dream11 due to their all-round capabilities. Bracewell has consistently proven himself as a dependable spin-bowling all-rounder who can contribute with both bat and ball, often delivering crucial performances in the middle order and picking up important wickets with his off-spin.

His ability to score quick runs lower down the order and bowl economical spells makes him a potential point multiplier at a lower selection cost. Similarly, Khushdil Shah offers excellent value as a budget pick due to his explosive batting ability in the middle order and useful left-arm spin bowling. His capability to accelerate the scoring rate and chip in with a few overs makes him a smart choice for those looking to balance their Dream11 team while maximizing potential points.

New Zealand vs Pakistan Captain and Vice Captain Choices:

Captain Options:

For captain picks, Kane Williamson and Babar Azam are premium choices due to their consistent point-scoring ability. Williamson’s recent form in the tri-series has been exceptional, scoring 225 runs in just 3 innings at an average of 112, making him a reliable captain choice who can multiply your points significantly.

Babar Azam, despite not having standout numbers mentioned from the tri-series, still remains a dependable choice given his proven track record in important matches and his ability to play long innings at crucial stages.

Vice-Captain Options:

For vice-captain selections, while Rachin Ravindra is a great choice due to his all-round abilities that can earn points in multiple categories, he has an ability to bat in top order and also bowl in the middle of the game is like getting two players in one – they can score points by batting at the top of the order and then pick up extra points by taking wickets when bowling.

Plus, being in the field a lot means they have more chances to take catches. Shaheen Shah Afridi, however, makes for an excellent vice-captain choice. His recent performance of 6 wickets in 3 innings shows he’s in good form, and his ability to pick up early wickets, particularly with the new ball, makes him a consistent point-scorer. His economy rate and wicket-taking ability can provide steady points even if he doesn’t have a breakthrough performance.

NZ vs PAK Dream11 Prediction Team 1:

This Dream11 team is well-balanced and strategically chosen based on recent performances. Mohammad Rizwan is a reliable choice as keeper, having shown good form with a solid 46 runs in the tri-series final. The batting lineup is strong with Williamson (who scored 225 runs in 3 innings) and Babar Azam providing stability, while Mitchell proved his worth with a match-winning 56 in the final.

The all-rounders section is particularly well-thought-out, featuring Agha Salman who’s been in excellent touch (219 runs at 73 average), alongside the versatile Bracewell and Khushdil Shah who can contribute in multiple departments. The bowling attack looks pretty lethal with Shaheen Afridi (6 wickets in tri-series) and the in-form O’Rourke (leading wicket-taker with 6 wickets) as the spearheads, supported by the talented Naseem Shah. This combination gives you point-scoring opportunities across all departments and includes several players who’ve shown good recent form.

• Keeper: Mohammad Rizwan
• Batters: Kane Williamson, Babar Azam, Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra
• All-rounders: Agha Salman, Michael Bracewell, Khushdil Shah
• Bowlers: Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, William O’Rourke

NZ vs PAK Dream11 Prediction Team 2:

This Dream11 team looks strong with smart picks across all departments. Mohammad Rizwan is a safe choice as a keeper since he has shown good touch. The batting group packs a punch – Williamson has been on fire recently, plus the ever-reliable Babar Azam and the explosive Fakhar Zaman. Though Rachin Ravindra was injured early in the tri-series, he’s known for scoring quick runs when fit.

The all-rounder picks are clever – Agha Salman has been in great touch, while Bracewell and Khushdil Shah can get points with both bat and ball. Your bowling attack looks deadly with Shaheen Afridi who displayed fiery performance in the tri-nation series, Haris Rauf the speed machine, and O’Rourke who was the top wicket-taker in the tri-nation series. Overall, this team gives you a good mix of consistent performers and match-winners who can get big points.

• Keeper: Mohammad Rizwan
• Batters: Kane Williamson, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Rachin Ravindra
• All-rounders: Agha Salman, Michael Bracewell, Khushdil Shah
• Bowlers: Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, William O’Rourke

NZ vs PAK Dream11 Prediction Today (Match No. 1) Champions Trophy 2025:

Players to Avoid:

Nathan Smith is a New Zealand right-arm bowler who is new to the team and young, so on the big stage like Champions Trophy, he will hardly get a place in the playing 11 in the first match while they have bowlers like Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson.

On the Pakistan side, Tayyab Tahir is also a new face in the squad, so he will need some time to get a place because Pakistan already has experienced batters in the squad like Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman. These two players would not get a place in the playing 11, so avoid picking them in your Dream11 if you don’t want to lose points

NZ vs PAK Dream11 Prediction Today (Match No. 1) Champions Trophy 2025 Expert Advice:

Captaincy Choice: Kane Williamson (NZ)

For the opening match of Champions Trophy 2025 between New Zealand and Pakistan, Kane Williamson stands out as the top choice for captain in your Dream11 team. Williamson’s batting has been exceptional, especially in recent matches, where he’s shown great consistency and ability to build big innings.

His calm approach and experience in handling pressure make him a reliable pick for captain, as he’s likely to spend a lot of time at the crease and accumulate steady points.

Vice Captaincy Choice: Babar Azam (PAK)

Babar Azam is the perfect choice for vice-captain. As Pakistan’s premier batsman, Babar has proven his worth in all conditions with his elegant stroke play and ability to convert slow starts into big scores.

His consistent batting average and knack for scoring runs against strong bowling attacks make him an excellent backup captaincy option. While he might not always score as explosively as some other batters, Babar’s reliability and technical excellence mean he rarely fails to contribute points to your Dream11 team.

Punt Picks: Mitchell Santner & Fakhar Zaman

Mitchell Santner and Fakhar Zaman are interesting punt picks for this Champions Trophy opener. Santner is a valuable all-round option who can surprise with both bat and ball. His left-arm spin bowling often proves effective in limiting runs and taking crucial middle-order wickets, while his lower-order batting capabilities can provide useful bonus points, especially in tight situations.

Fakhar Zaman, though sometimes inconsistent, can be a game-changing selection. When in form, his aggressive batting style can demolish bowling attacks and rack up quick points through boundaries and sixes. While he might be a risky pick due to his hit-or-miss nature, Fakhar’s ability to score big when he gets going makes him an exciting punt pick that could give your Dream11 team a significant edge if he fires.

Disclaimer: This team is based on the analysis, Calculated odds, and Past Experience of the author. While selecting your team, consider the analysis only as supporting data while making your own decision. Sportsdunia does not work with insider news and will not be responsible for any monetary loss for the users following the analysis.