Pakistan vs New Zealand Playing 11: Babar Azam to open for Pakistan, misses out for New Zealand after face injury

Hosts Pakistan are set to lock horns with New Zealand in the first match of ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at the National Stadium in Karachi on Wednesday. The two teams recently locked horns in an ODI Tri-series, where New Zealand emerged victorious in the final. Pakistan will look for revenge where the stakes are much higher.

Pakistan cricket has been contemplating on their opening combination after Saim Ayub was ruled out due to an injury. Skipper Mohammad Rizwan addressed the press and made it clear that star batter Babar Azam will open.

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"If you look at the conditions and decide based on what’s best for the team, then it is Babar who should open," he declared, putting to rest any lingering doubts.

Dismissing rumours of Azam’s reluctance to continue at the top, he firmly stated, "Babar is satisfied, and he will continue with it."

The captain emphasized that any alteration in the batting order was purely a strategic adjustment for the Champions Trophy, not a long-term shift.

“The change was only made for the five games of the tournament,” he clarified, reinforcing his faith in Pakistan’s premier batter to lead from the front.

New Zealand, on the other hand, are a fairly settled unit. However, a dew last minute injuries have forced the team to make a few changes to the squad.

Read More: Champions Trophy 2025: Pakistan vs New Zealand Pitch Report

Pakistan Cricket Team predicted playing 11

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

New Zealand predicted playing 11

Devon Conway, Will Young, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham(w), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner(c), Nathan Smith, Matt Henry, William ORourke