The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 heats up with a thrilling group-stage encounter between Pakistan and New Zealand on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at 2:30 PM IST. The match will take place at Karachi’s National Stadium.
As the home team, Pakistan will aim to leverage their potent pace attack to seize control of the game. Meanwhile, New Zealand, under the leadership of Mitchell Santner, will rely on a well-rounded squad and their seasoned batting order to challenge the Pakistani advantage.
Stay tuned as we dive into the match prediction, fantasy cricket tips, key players to watch, and a detailed pitch report to help you build the best fantasy team for this exciting showdown.
Team Overview & Playing XI : Pakistan vs New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand has been on the verge of clinching an ICC white-ball tournament victory multiple times in recent years. After their women’s team triumphed in the T20 World Cup last year, the Black Caps will be eager to flip the script on their near-misses in semifinals and finals. Although New Zealand has been hit with the loss of two key pacers due to injury ahead of the tournament, their squad remains one of the strongest on paper. With a well-rounded mix of pacers, spinners, all-rounders, and finishers, the Black Caps are poised to challenge for the title.
New Zealand Dream11 Prediction Full Squad
- Rachin Ravindra / Will Young
- Devon Conway
- Kane Williamson
- Daryl Mitchell
- Tom Latham (wk)
- Glenn Phillips
- Michael Bracewell
- Mitchell Santner (capt)
- Matt Henry
- Jacob Duffy
- Will O’Rourke
Pakistan
Pakistan has been in solid form recently, playing more ODIs than any other team in the Champions Trophy, with a total of 12 matches in the past four months. Despite this, their recent losses to the same team in the tri-series may have stung their confidence. Now, just days later, Pakistan will face the same opposition, New Zealand, once again. The two teams have a rich history of encounters, and while there’s mutual familiarity, New Zealand’s recent success over Pakistan could give them a psychological edge heading into this exciting clash.
Pakistan Dream11 Prediction Full Squad
- Fakhar Zaman
- Babar Azam
- Saud Shakeel
- Mohammad Rizwan (capt & wk)
- Salman Agha
- Tayyab Tahir
- Khushdil Shah
- Shaheen Shah Afridi
- Naseem Shah
- Haris Rauf
- Abrar Ahmed
Recent Track Record [ MI vs GG ]
- New Zealand [ NZ ] : [ W , W , W , L , W ]
- Pakistan [ PAK ] : [ L , W , L , W , W ]
Fantasy Picks: Top Players to Watch in Pakistan vs New Zealand
Mitchell Santner , Michael Bracewell [New Zealand]
In the recently concluded tri-series, New Zealand’s spinners showcased exceptional performance, finishing with a combined economy rate of 4.41. This was particularly impressive compared to Pakistan and South Africa’s spinners, who had economy rates of 5.67 and 5.94, respectively. The standout bowlers, Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell, each took five wickets during the series, maintaining near-identical averages and economy rates. Their partnership offers one of the most formidable spin combinations in the tournament—Santner, the left-arm finger spinner, and Bracewell, the off-spinner, are not only effective with the ball but also provide valuable depth in the batting department.
Babar Azam [Pakistan]
Babar Azam has gone 21 innings without scoring an ODI century, which, while not unusual for most batsmen, is surprising for someone of his caliber. During this run, he has only registered two single-digit scores, indicating he’s still in good form. However, a big knock from Pakistan’s star batsman at the start of a major global event on home soil would bring immense joy to the team and their fans. Now batting at the top of the order instead of No. 3, a significant innings from Babar would also help Pakistan settle any concerns regarding the balance and structure of their lineup.
Pitch and Weather Insights: National Stadium, Karachi
Karachi recently hosted the final two matches of the tri-series, and they proved to be vastly different contests. On February 12, South Africa set a new record at the venue with a massive total of 352, the highest-ever at the stadium. However, Pakistan chased it down in dramatic fashion, clinching victory with an over to spare. Just two days later, New Zealand’s Will O’Rourke claimed four wickets, and Mitchell Santner proved nearly unplayable with figures of 2 for 20 in his ten overs. Pakistan, batting first in the final, were bowled out for 242, a target New Zealand comfortably chased with five wickets and 28 balls to spare.
What can we expect from the National Stadium surface on Wednesday? Recent history shows this venue tends to favor fast bowlers in ODIs, with a combined average of 33.67 and an economy rate of 6.02 over the past decade. While Lahore pitches have been tough on spinners, Karachi has offered them some relief. Spinners’ wickets have come at an average of 45.50, with an economy rate of just 5.11 per over.Looking at recent global tournaments, pitches have generally provided good batting conditions, while still offering opportunities for bowlers. The last three ICC ODI events – the 2017 Champions Trophy and the 2019 and 2023 World Cups – all finished with overall run rates of 5.54, 5.59, and 5.82 respectively.
On Wednesday, Karachi is expected to see warm weather, with a high of 29 degrees Celsius and minimal chances of rain.
To Know More About Champions Trophy 2025 Click Here
Fantasy Cricket Team Generator: The Ultimate Tool for Pakistan vs New Zealand
The right team generator is essential for picking the best lineup for today’s match between Pakistan and New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. With Spontasy’s AI-powered fantasy team builder, you get access to real-time player stats, form analysis, and match conditions, ensuring your Dream11 fantasy team is set up for success.
Why Spontasy’s Team Generator is the Best for Pakistan vs New Zealand:
- Player Insights: Access in-depth stats on player form, recent performances, and match history. Choose top players like Babar Azam, Kane Williamson, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Mitchell Santner based on real-time insights and past performances.
- Optimized Lineups: The team generator offers smart recommendations based on a variety of factors such as the pitch report, weather conditions, and key player matchups. Create the best fantasy XI in minutes for today’s game between Pakistan and New Zealand.
- Smart Substitutions: If a player’s form drops or there’s a last-minute change in playing conditions, the team generator suggests smart substitutions to ensure your team remains competitive throughout the match.
- Real-Time Stats & Updates: Stay updated with the latest performance metrics and make last-minute changes to your Dream11 squad. Maximize your points with the most accurate data, ensuring you’re always one step ahead in the fantasy cricket game.