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Top 3 bowlers to watch out for in Pakistan vs New Zealand Champions Trophy Match 1 (File Photo: X)
The defending champions and hosts Pakistan will take on New Zealand in the tournament opener of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The game will be played at the National Stadium in Karachi tomorrow February 19, at 2:30 PM (IST). Recently, both teams played each other in the final of the ODI tri-nation series in Pakistan, in which the Blackcaps won the title by defeating the hosts with a 5-wicket margin.
The tournament opener of the Champions Trophy 2025 will be a very crucial game to win for both teams to start their journey on a winning note in the tournament. Mohammad Rizwan’s Pakistan will aim to clear off the books with New Zealand for a defeat in the final of the tri-nation series.
In the last five ODIs, Pakistan have won three games while losing two, including the final of the recently concluded ODI tri-nation series. On the other hand, the Blackcaps have been in brilliant form, with four wins and only one defeat in their last five ODIs.
With that said, here we’ll look at the Top 3 bowlers to watch out for in the Pakistan vs New Zealand clash of the Champions Trophy 2025.
Here's a look at 3 bowlers to watch out for in PAK vs NZ Match 1:
3. William O’Rourke
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Young New Zealand pacer William O’Rourke impressed everyone with his performances in the ODI tri-nation series, especially in the final against Pakistan. The 23-year-old delivered a match-winning stint in the summit clash of the series, scalping 4 wickets at just 43 runs.
O’Rourke scalped a total of 6 wickets in three innings of the three matches he played in the series. The young pacer conceded runs with a decent bowling economy rate of 6.31, including a four-wicket haul to his name in the must-win final for New Zealand. For one more time against Pakistan at the same venue in Karachi, he will be one of the top 3 bowlers to watch out for among both teams.
2. Shaheen Afridi
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Pakistan’s star pace spearhead Shaheen Afridi was the leading wicket-taker for his side in the tri-nation series. He scalped 6 wickets in three innings, with a good economy rate 6.86, including the best performance of ‘3 wickets in a game.’
Shaheen could seriously threaten the Kiwi batters while bowling with the new ball in the powerplay overs. He can scalp some quick wickets of the top order, bowling some effective overs with the new ball in the initial phase of the game.
1. Matt Henry
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The veteran New Zealand pacer Matt Henry has been one of the most economical pacers for his side in the last couple of ODI appearances. In the ODI tri-nation series in Pakistan, he scalped 5 wickets in two innings, with a brilliant economy rate of 5.64. It also included his best performance of ‘3 wickets in a game’.
Matt Henry might also be a vital element for New Zealand owing to his experience of bowling with the new ball in the powerplay overs. In the absence of the two veterans, Trent Boult and Tim Southee, the axis of New Zealand’s pace attack will revolve around the experience of Matt Henry. So, he is also expected to be one of the 3 key performing bowlers in the Pakistan vs New Zealand clash.