Pakistan vs New Zealand – 1st One-Day International Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Pakistan vs New Zealand taking place? Friday 17th September, 2021 - 10:30 (UK)
Where is Pakistan vs New Zealand taking place? Pindi Club Ground, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
What is the expected weather for Pakistan vs New Zealand? 33c in sunny skies
What channel is Pakistan vs New Zealand on? The match will be televised live on Sky Sports Cricket
Where can I stream Pakistan vs New Zealand? The match can be streamed live using the SkyGo app
LAST MEETING
Pakistan beat New Zealand by 6 wickets
THE TEAM NEWS
PAKISTAN
- Pakistan will look to banish the memories of their woeful tour of England behind them as they host New Zealand but the pressure will well and truly be on them home team here following the humiliating whitewash against the English.
- Despite facing a side missing almost the entirety of their full-strength side, Pakistan could not take advantage as they failed to win a game in the series, even with skipper Babar Azam producing a sensational knock in the third and final game.
- Azam cemented his spot as the world’s best ODI batsman with a career-best 158 off just 139 balls to guide Pakistan to 331/9 but they could not defend that total and changes have been made to this squad as a result with four uncapped players in with a chance of debuting here including three exciting youngsters.
NEW ZEALAND
- New Zealand come into this first tour of Pakistan in 18 years as the world’s top ranked ODI side but it will be far from a full-strength side they field with numerous of their frontline players not taking part.
- The Black Caps are without skipper Kane Williamson as well as the likes of Ross Taylor and Trent Boult and their absence in particularly will be difficult to overcome with all three sitting in the top ten rankings for batting or bowling.
- Having named an under-strength squad, there are set to be plenty of opportunities for fringe players to come into the side and build a case for more regular inclusion but the batting line-up in particular looks very fragile.
THE PREDICTION
Pakistan will be desperate to get back to winning ways in ODI cricket
after a terrible showing in their last series. They were downed by a
severely weakened England side and their failure to defend a big total
in the third and final game of the whitewash was perhaps their biggest
disappointment. They come up against another under-strength side here as
they welcome New Zealand to Rawalpindi but things could be different
here for the hosts. Home soil could prove to be crucial here and having
avoided defeat in their last three ODI matches against New Zealand,
Pakistan are favoured to come out on top in this opening contest.
