Tri-nation 2024/25, Pak vs nz 1st

Big palmine: Opportunition for a precious game time in Pakistan

An ODI Triangular series is something of a curiosity that belongs to a museum more than 2025. Pakistan welcomed one in 2004, and there was none in the ODI format everywhere since 2008. When this special series was announced not long ago not long ago not long ago not long ago not long ago, it stood out – it is The only ODI TRI series in the current FTP.

Pakistan, New Zealand and South Africa will play a truncated version of the classic tri-series, with a single game tour followed by a final. The calendar was probably in a hurry by the SA20 at one end and the champions trophy to the other, and this is this next ICC event – the first led by Pakistan in almost three decades – which gives the context of the series.

While the South African team is weakened by the commitments of the players at the SA20 and the injuries, Pakistan and New Zealand, which are caught in the first match, are about the high resistance sides . The two appointed almost identical teams for this series and the Champions Trophy, and had two training sessions at the reconstructed Gaddafi stadium, which will be officially inaugurated on Friday, on the eve of the first match.

For each side, it offers the possibility of a precious match practice in conditions where the champions trophy will take place overall (with the matches of India in Dubai). Pakistan and New Zealand will also open the Tournament de marqueau, although this match will take place in Karachi and not in Lahore. The two have played exactly nine Odi each since the end of the 2023 World Cup, and all in very different conditions for that. While Pakistan won each of their three recent ODI series, New Zealand failed to play in the subcontinent, a 2-0 reversal against Sri Lanka.

However, it is not as if they were short of match practice in this country. Since December 2022, they have played two tests, eight ODI and Ten T20is in Pakistan in four series. On most of these occasions, however, several factors meant that New Zealand has sent weakened squads, with a wider context to accumulate. This time, however, there is a multi-team trophy on the line, while preparing for the second title of Cricket Odi.

It offers visitors a chance to try what seems to be a healthy balance between seam and spin in Pakistan. Captain Mitchell Santner will have Rachin Ravira, Michael Bracewell and Glenn Phillips for Slow Bowling Company, while they also have a battery of quick quantities – no less than six – in their trial team.

Pakistan seems to have shown its hand a little more, with a single full -time spinner alongside Salman Ali Agha, their most plausible part -time spin option. There is a little DIY required at the top, where it seems that Fakhar Zaman, back from the cold, will open with Babar Azam, an experience that the PCBs test before the Champions Trophy. With this their only match before the deadline to make changes to the team on February 11, there is more driving for them than the simple result of the competition.

Guide

Pakistan Wwwww (last five games finished, the most recent first)
New Zealand Lwwll

Under the spotlight: Babar Azam and Lockie Ferguson

Babar Azam is always under the spotlight, but things are different this time. With the injury of Saim Ayub and the loss of form of Abdullah Shafic, Espncricinfo understands that the former captain of Pakistan should be called upon to open the striker to ensure stability at the top. He, with a polarizing effect, played this role in the Cricket T20 for several years and, more recently, was opened as the first operator in Cape Town, marking half a century at each round. In the ODIs, however, all the sleeves except 14 of his sleeves came to three, and while he seeks to sail on a series of difficult forms, a change of position in his most prolific format will guarantee all the eyes on him .

Lockie Ferguson Has not played cricket Odi since the end of the tail of 2023, but with Pakistan which also appointed four designers in their team, this can be a series where express pace is a factor. Freshly out of a respectable performance in ILT20, where he is among the ten upper counters, Ferguson, 33, is the oldest quick launcher on the three sides this tri-series, but also the fastest. Against a pair of opening of Pakistan by fortune and, in Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan, intermediate order players are more accomplished against the high pace, the additional heat of Ferguson presents a place of vulnerability for Pakistan and a point of difference for New Zealand.

Team news: Saim Ayub is out of action

Ayub is recovering from an ankle injury, is out of the series and the Champions Trophy. Pakistan should open with Fakhar and Babar, with three first sewing and Abrar Ahmed as a first line spinner. The average order will see a certain rotation on the series.

Pakistan (probably) 1 Fakhar Zaman, 2 Babar Azam, 3 Kamran Ghulam, 4 Mohammad Rizwan (Capt, WK), 5 Tayyab Tahir / Saud Shakeel, 6 Salman Agha, 7 Khushdil Shah, 8 Shaheen Afridi, 9 Naseem Shah, 10 Haris Rauf, 11 Abrar Ahmed

New Zealand has two occasions to determine their best side here before closing the Champions Trophy Squads Champions. Conditions would suggest three rapid quarremen at least. With all New Zealand spinners also at hand, the team balance is not really a problem.

New Zealand (possible) 1 Devon Conway, 2 Will Young, 3 Rachin Ravindra, 4 Kane Williamson, 5 Daryl Mitchell, 5 Tom Latham (WK), 7 Glenn Phillips / Michael Bracewell, 8 Mitchell Santner (Capt), 9 Lockie Ferguson, 10 Matt Henry, 11 Will O’Rourke

Purpose and conditions

It is a bit of a mystery, with all the soil rebuilt recently. Historically, however, the Gaddafi has produced surfaces of flat strikers and rewards an additional pace in the Cricket Odi. The general costs are likely to be more covered than sunny, with temperatures plunging in the evening, but no rain is expected.

Statistics and anecdotes

Babar only opened twice in ODI cricket, in a bilateral series against England in 2015. He scored 26 points on his two rounds
Ferguson is at a counter to become the 19th New Zealand at 100 ODI counters
Pakistan hosted an ODI tri-series for the last time in 2004, with Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. His name was the Paktel Cup, after a telecommunications company that no longer exists. Sri Lanka beat Pakistan in the final then

Quotes

“We have seen [Tim] South-South and [Trent] Boult does it for a long time for us and do a very good job. We have new guys who find themselves in parallel with the experience of Matt Henry and good fast bowling stocks. “”
Mitchell Santner Think that the bowling rhythm of New Zealand is in a good place

Danyal Rasool is the Pakistani correspondent for Espncricinfo. @ Danny61000