Cricket Match Prediction | New Zealand vs Pakistan | 1st ODI | Mar 29 – Can NZ dominate PAK in the first match?  

NZ vs PAK Match Analysis

New Zealand and Pakistan will play each other in the 1st match of the 3-match ODI series, which will be played on March 29, 2025, at 04:00 AM BST at McLean Park, Napier. 

New Zealand convincingly won the T20I series 4-1, showcasing their dominance in home conditions. They outclassed Pakistan in all four victories and are widely expected to maintain their superiority in the upcoming ODI series. However, with the return of Pakistan’s two top players of this generation, Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam, NZ is anticipated to face a stronger challenge.

However, Pakistan will be missing Haris Rauf and Shaheen Shah Afridi, two of PAK’s premier fast bowlers, as they were not included in the squad for this part of the tour.

With Tom Latham withdrawing from the series, Michael Bracewell will once again lead New Zealand, but their in-form fast bowler, Matt Henry, will not be part of the squad.

NZ vs PAK Team Preview & Squads

New Zealand 

Similar to the T20I series, New Zealand won’t be at full strength, but they still boast a squad packed with talent and experience in home conditions at Napier.

Notably, wicketkeeper-batter Tim Seifert, who was New Zealand’s top scorer in their recent T20I series win, has not been included.

In his absence, captain Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, and Daryl Mitchell are expected to lead the batting lineup in the first ODI, while Bracewell, Jacob Duffy, and Will O’Rourke will spearhead the bowling attack.

Consistent opener Will Young was initially named in the squad but has since withdrawn due to paternity leave, opening the door for Rhys Mariu, who is eager for his international debut.

New Zealand Squads

New Zealand Squads

Mitchell Hay, Nick Kelly, Muhammad Abbas, Henry Nicholls, Will Young, Tom Latham, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Nathan Smith, Adithya Ashok, Jacob Duffy, Will O’Rourke, Ben Sears, Rhys Mariu

Pakistan

Pakistan will undoubtedly benefit from the skill and consistency that captain Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam bring to the side, assets that would strengthen any ODI team in the world.

However, Babar has struggled for form recently, having been dismissed in the 20s in his last two matches. That said, he did manage to score 64 runs against New Zealand in his second-to-last innings in this format.

With Haris Rauf and Shaheen Shah Afridi absent, this match presents a valuable opportunity for fringe players to step up and make an impact in the series.

While Pakistan can secure a win, their recent form across all formats remains a major concern.

Pakistan Squads

Pakistan Squads

Mohammad Rizwan, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Irfan Khan, Tayyab Tahir, Salman Agha, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Sufiyan Muqeem 

New Zealand vs Pakistan outfield report 

McLean Park, Napier

With ample batting opportunities across the three ODIs, both teams are likely to prefer batting first in this series opener, aiming to post a total that puts the opposition under pressure.

There is a chance of a brief shower in the early afternoon, but overall, the conditions in Napier on Saturday will be warm and favorable for cricket.

Napier has traditionally been a high-scoring venue, and the overhead conditions should provide a comfortable setting for the top order to build substantial innings. However, despite these factors, we still anticipate New Zealand emerging victorious!

New Zealand vs Pakistan Head-to-Head Stats of Last 5 Matches 

In their last 5 matches, NZ won 4 and PAK won 1. 

New Zealand vs Pakistan Prediction 

Cricket analysts predict that New Zealand has a 64% chance of winning.

Disclaimer: This cricket prediction is based on the author’s insights and analysis. Readers should consider the points discussed and draw their own conclusions.