The New Zealand team will participate in an ODI tri-series also featuring Pakistan and South Africa, set to begin on February 8. The final will be played in Karachi on February 14. This high-stakes tournament is seen as a crucial opportunity for all three teams to fine-tune their preparations ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. New Zealand will kick off their campaign against hosts Pakistan at the iconic Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, followed by a clash against South Africa at the same venue on February 10. In a key development, the Blackcaps have included pacer Jacob Duffy in their squad for the series, strengthening their pace attack.
New Zealand’s recent record in the ODI format
New Zealand in this series are arriving at the backdrop of a successful T20I and ODI campaign against Sri Lanka in which they defeated the visitors 2-1. The Blackcaps managed to outperform Sri Lanka comfortably winning the 1st ODI by 9 wickets and the second one by 113 runs. However, they had a slip-up during the final encounter in limited overs format as they were defeated by 140 runs. During the course of their series triumph against Sri Lanka, Mark Chapman delivered for the Blackcaps with the bat with notable contributions from Rachin Ravindra during the course of the ODI series. Matt Henry was the star for the New Zealand side with the bowl as he clinched 9 wickets during the 3-match series.
Also Read: Pakistan’s best playing XI for the ODI tri-series against South Africa and New Zealand
New Zealand’s top-choice XI for the tri-nation ODI series against Pakistan and South Africa
The Blackcaps will aim to outperform the other two sides and find their momentum ahead of the major clashes at the Champions Trophy 2025. They will also treat this tri-series as a major event in order to acclimatize the players according to the sub-continent conditions which generally prefer batters and spinners especially during the crunch moments of the contest. In the light of these dynamics, here’s how Blackcaps are predicted to feature during the tri-nation series in Pakistan.
1. Will Young
- Role: A technically sound top-order batter who provides stability and ensures a steady start for the team in challenging conditions.
- Impact: Plays the role of an anchor in case of early wickets, rotating the strike efficiently while capitalizing on loose deliveries. His presence allows the aggressive opener at the other end to express himself freely.
- Strength: Exceptional temperament under pressure, strong defensive technique, and ability to accumulate runs consistently without taking undue risks.
2. Rachin Ravindra
- Role: An attacking left-handed opener who sets the tone for the innings by taking on the bowlers in the powerplay while maintaining a strong strike rate.
- Impact: His ability to dominate both spin and pace makes him a crucial asset, especially in subcontinent conditions. He can shift gears effortlessly and provide crucial early momentum to the team.
- Strength: Outstanding against spin, adept at finding gaps in the field, possesses a natural ability to manipulate the strike, and has an excellent conversion rate for his starts.
3. Kane Williamson
- Role: The experienced pillar of New Zealand’s batting lineup, responsible for holding the innings together and guiding the team through middle overs.
- Impact: His composure and match awareness allow him to pace his innings according to the situation, making him an invaluable asset in run chases and pressure situations. His ability to maneuver spinners and find gaps ensures that the team never loses momentum.
- Strength: Supreme consistency, masterful footwork against spin, outstanding game-reading ability, and a wealth of experience in subcontinental conditions.
4. Mark Chapman
- Role: A dynamic middle-order batter known for his aggressive stroke play and ability to accelerate the scoring rate when required.
- Impact: He adds explosiveness to the batting lineup with his ability to find boundaries at will. His presence allows New Zealand to maintain an aggressive approach in the middle overs and shift gears quickly when needed.
- Strength: Clean striker of the ball, strong against both pace and spin, capable of finishing innings with big hits, and provides flexibility in the batting order.
5. Tom Latham (Wicket-Keeper)
- Role: A reliable wicket-keeper batter who brings experience and tactical awareness, ensuring solidity in the middle order while guiding the younger batters.
- Impact: His ability to build innings, counter pressure situations, and accelerate towards the backend makes him a key component. His previous success in Pakistan adds further confidence.
- Strength: Strong against both pace and spin, excellent ability to rotate strike, composed in pressure chases, and a safe pair of hands behind the stumps.
6. Glenn Phillips
- Role: A powerful middle-order batter and a handy off-spinner who provides depth in both batting and bowling departments.
- Impact: His aggressive batting style makes him a dangerous finisher, while his part-time spin offers an additional bowling option, especially against left-handers. He thrives in high-pressure situations and can turn the game around within a few overs.
- Strength: Exceptional power-hitter, fearless against fast bowlers, agile fielder, and can chip in with crucial overs in spin-friendly conditions.
7. Mitchell Santner (Captain)
- Role: The captain and frontline all-rounder who leads the spin department while providing stability in the lower middle order.
- Impact: His leadership and tactical intelligence help New Zealand control the middle overs, while his all-round abilities make him a key asset with both bat and ball. His variations in spin can trouble batters on slow and turning wickets.
- Strength: Consistently economical with the ball, skilled in restricting runs in middle overs, capable of chipping in with crucial lower-order runs, and a sharp cricketing brain.
8. Michael Bracewell
- Role: A versatile batting all-rounder who provides depth to the lineup and an extra spin option in the bowling department.
- Impact: His ability to play attacking cricket in the lower order makes him a dangerous finisher, while his off-spin bowling adds variety and control in spin-friendly conditions.
- Strength: Hard-hitting batter, adaptable to different match situations, useful off-spinner in dry conditions, and a proven match-winner in high-pressure moments.
9. Jacob Duffy
- Role: A right-arm fast bowler who specializes in extracting movement with the new ball and striking early in the powerplay.
- Impact: Can swing the ball in both directions, making him lethal in the opening overs. He provides crucial early breakthroughs, putting the opposition on the back foot.
- Strength: Ability to generate sharp movement, consistently bowls in good areas, and can restrict the scoring rate with disciplined bowling in powerplays.
10. Matt Henry
- Role: The leader of the pace attack who brings experience and consistency, spearheading New Zealand’s bowling lineup with his accuracy and wicket-taking ability.
- Impact: Plays a vital role in all phases of the innings, providing breakthroughs upfront, maintaining control in the middle overs, and being effective at the death.
- Strength: Brilliant seam movement, deadly in helpful conditions, accurate with yorkers in death overs, and can bowl sustained spells with high intensity.
11. Will O’Rourke
- Role: A fast bowler who operates in the middle and death overs, bringing extra pace and bounce to trouble batters.
- Impact: His ability to generate extra bounce and maintain pressure in the middle overs makes him an important bowler in the squad. He can also bowl sharp bouncers and well-directed short deliveries to unsettle the batters.
- Strength: Tall, generates awkward bounce, delivers disciplined spells, and has the potential to be a game-changer with aggressive fast bowling.
