Champions Trophy 2025: Pakistan vs New Zealand Playing 11 and Toss Report- PAK Win Toss, Opt To Field; Haris Rauf Returns

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Pakistan vs New Zealand Toss, Playing 11 Report, Champions Trophy 2025: Mohammad Rizwan-led Pakistan opted to bowl first after winning the toss against New Zealand at the National Stadium in Karachi on February 19, 2025 (Wednesday).

After opting to field, Rizwan confirmed that star pacer, Haris Rauf is fully fit now and is finally back in the playing XI. On the other hand, Kiwi skipper Mitchell Santner said that the visitors will have Matt Henry in their line-up for the big tie in Karachi.

''We will bowl first. Seen the last couple of matches dew comes in later, so want to maximise on that. We are the defending champions so will be in a bit more pressure, but we will treat it like the previous tri-series. Playing in Pakistan will be great as well. Haris Rauf is fit again so he's back in'', Rizwan said at the toss.

''The dew gets on later, but we have a job to do with the bat. Looks like a good wicket. We have a good mix of experience and new faces, and are playing some good cricket as well. We have been lucky to play these guys home and away, so we know each other well. What's most important is getting used to the conditions here in Karachi. The injuries we've had are unfortunate, but are confident with the boys that we have out here. Matt Henry comes back in for us'', Santner added.

Pakistan vs New Zealand Playing 11- PAK vs NZ

New Zealand (Playing XI): Devon Conway, Will Young, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham(w), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner(c), Nathan Smith, Matt Henry, William O'Rourke.

Pakistan (Playing XI): Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan(w/c), Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.

Pakistan vs New Zealand, Champions Trophy Pitch Report - National Stadium, Karachi

The pitch offers an interesting challenge for both batters and bowlers. The off-side boundary for right-handed batters is 62 meters, while the leg-side boundary is slightly longer at 67 meters. The straight boundary is the longest, making it more difficult for batters to clear.

The surface is very dry with plenty of cracks, which suggests that spinners will have a significant role to play, especially as the match progresses. The cracks and dry patches in the good-length areas could create uneven bounce, making stroke play tricky.

Teams have had mixed success while chasing on this pitch, indicating that conditions can change over the course of the game. A first-innings total of around 300 would be a competitive target.

Batters will need to be cautious with shot selection, particularly when targeting the shorter boundaries. How they manage spinners and take advantage of the field dimensions will be crucial to posting or chasing a strong total.