The high-stakes bilateral series involving Pakistan and New Zealand has kicked off, serving as a dress rehearsal to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Both Pakistan and New Zealand are looking for fine-tuning their strategies into the series while Pakistan’s skipper Mohammad Rizwan marked the importance of the series while calling it as the “best preparation for the bigger event”.
The host nation, Pakistan, will host the Champions Trophy next year. It is the first major ICC tournament to be held in the country since 1996. The current series provides both teams with an opportunity to assess conditions, experiment with playing combinations, and gain momentum ahead of the prestigious competition.
For New Zealand, it will be important to adapt to subcontinent pitches and conditions as they look to challenge Pakistan at home. The Black Caps have arrived with a balanced squad, blending experienced players with young talent, while Pakistan is fielding a full-strength squad to solidify their playing XI for the global tournament.
With tough competition anticipated, cricket fans can expect thrilling matches between these two teams as they prepare for Champions Trophy 2025.