Pakistan vs New Zealand 1st ODI Match Prediction – Who will win today’s match between PAK vs NZ?

Preview 

The first match of the three-match ODI series between Pakistan and New Zealand is set to take place on Friday, September 17 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Prior to the series, the Black Caps have been jolted with a blow as Tom Blundell has been ruled out after he sustained a left-quad strain.

Daryl Mitchell, who was set to join for the T20Is, will be available from the second ODI onwards. Pakistan, in the meantime, have named a 12-man squad for the game. The Men in Green lost their ODI and T20I series in England and it’s time for Babar Azam and his men to make a comeback.

Match Details

Match – Pakistan vs New Zealand – 1st ODI

Venue – Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

Time – 03:00 PM IST, 02:30 PM Local

Where to watch live – Sony Six, Sony LIV

Pitch Report

The pitch in Rawalpindi has been a decent one for batting over the years. In 2020, a match at the very venue between Zimbabwe and Pakistan ended in a tie with the visitors winning the Super Over. Pakistan won’t mind batting first since they have a power-packed bowling unit to defend a score.

Avg score: 243 (24 ODIs in Rawalpindi)

Record of chasing teams: Won – 12, Lost – 11, Tied – 1

Playing combination for PAK vs NZ

Pakistan

Predicted XI

Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Hasan Ali, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Usman Qadir

Bench: Zahid Mehmood

New Zealand

Predicted XI

Rachin Ravindra, Finn Allen, Will Young, Colin de Grandhomme, Tom Latham (w/c), Henry Nicholls, Cole McConchie/Scott Kuggeleijn, Doug Bracewell, Ajaz Patel, Blair Tickner/Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry

Bench: Hamish Bennett, Matt Henry, Blair Tickner/Jacob Duffy

PAK vs NZ Head-to-Head

Overall

Played – 107 | Pakistan – 55 | New Zealand – 48 | N/R – 3 | Tied- 1

In Pakistan

Played – 20 | Pakistan – 17 | New Zealand – 3 | N/R – 0 | Tied- 0

Probable best batsman of the match

Babar Azam– Pakistan

Babar Azam has been a fulcrum of the Pakistan batting in the limited-overs formats. The right-hander has decent numbers against the Black Caps. In 11 matches, Azam has notched 415 runs at an average of 41.50 with one century. In his previous ODI against the Kiwis, Babar scored a century in a stupendous run-chase at Edgbaston in Birmingham.

Probable best bowler of the match

Shaheen Shah Afridi- Pakistan

Shaheen Shah Afridi has been leading the Pakistan pace attack pretty efficiently in the last two years or so. The left-armer has picked up 53 wickets from 28 ODIs with four four-wicket hauls and two five-wicket hauls. It remains to be seen if he can run through New Zealand’s batting unit in Friday’s match at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Today’s match prediction: Pakistan to win the match.

Disclaimer: This prediction is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While making your prediction, consider the points mentioned, and make your own decision.