HIGHLIGHTS New Zealand vs Pakistan, Pakistan in New Zealand 5 T20I Series 2025, 1st T20- Result, Scorecard

Welcome back for the run chase. The umpires and the players are out in the middle. Tim Seifert and Finn Allen walk in with their blades for New Zealand. Shaheen Afridi has the new ball in hand and is raring to go. Let's play...

…THE RUN CHASE…

Right then, New Zealand will be confident to chase down 92 runs and go 1-0 up in the series. Can they do it with ease or will the Pakistani bowlers show some fight and make it hard for them? We shall find out soon. Join us in a while for the second essay.

Kyle Jamieson is up for a chat. He revealed that he had discussed his bowling strategy with the skipper, opting to save an over for the back end due to the swing-friendly conditions here. He expressed relief at being back home and fit, following a tough year, and hoped his batting wouldn't be required.

New Zealand were brilliant with the ball. They utilized the conditions well and extracted good bounce and swing from the surface. Kyle Jamieson ripped through the top order and finished with an outstanding spell of 3/8 from his four overs. Jacob Duffy with four wickets also did a fine job while Ish Sodhi, and Zakary Foulkes also played their part nicely to dismiss Pakistan to an under-par score.

A sorry-looking scorecard for Pakistan who have been bundled out for just 91 and have failed to bat out their quota of overs. Having been sent into bat first, Pakistan were in all sorts of trouble early on and were reeling at 11/4 in the fifth over. Khushdil Shah and Salman Agha stuck a 46-run stand to provide some stability but both the batters were dismissed after getting to decent starts. Jahandad Khan stuck a few lusty blows down the order but the Men in Green failed to go past the 100-run mark.

Jacob Duffy to Abrar Ahmed, OUT! TAKEN! Jacob Duffy ends with a four-wicket haul. Pitched full, just outside off. Abrar Ahmed makes room and looks to slam it over the infield. Fails to get the desired connection and hits it straight to Michael Bracewell at the mid-off region. Pakistan are dismissed for 91 inside 19 overs.

Jacob Duffy to Abrar Ahmed, Fuller length ball, outside the line of the leg stump. Abrar Ahmed backed away early and failed to lay the bat on the ball.

Jacob Duffy to Abrar Ahmed, WIDE! Banged in short as Abrar Ahmed came down the pitch, and tried to steer, but the ball climbed over him, called as a wide for height.

Jacob Duffy to Mohammad Ali, Back of a length on off. Mohammad Ali taps it toward point for a single.

Mohammad Ali is the last batter for Pakistan. He will face the hat-trick ball.

Jacob Duffy to Shaheen Afridi, OUT! GONE! NINE DOWN NOW! Jacob Duffy bowls the slower delivery, full, and wide outside off. Shaheen Afridi looks to hoick it across the line but this comes off the outer edge and flies toward the short third region. Mitchell Hay tracks back and takes a good catch running backward. Pakistan are in danger of not playing out their overs.

Zakary Foulkes to Shaheen Afridi, Pace-off, back of a length, on the hip. Shaheen Afridi tucks it toward square leg for one.

Zakary Foulkes to Shaheen Afridi, Sharp short ball, outside off. Shaheen Afridi looks to play the upper cut but does not connect.

Zakary Foulkes to Abrar Ahmed, Back of a length, outside off. Abrar Ahmed backs away and guides it to deep third for one.

Zakary Foulkes to Shaheen Afridi, LEG BYE! Slower ball, full, down the leg side. Shaheen Afridi missed the flick and as the ball deflected towards point off his bat, Abrar Ahmed wandered down the wicket. Foulkes ran across, picked it up, and hurled an off-target throw that allowed a leg bye.

Zakary Foulkes to Abrar Ahmed, Back of a length angled into the middle. Abrar Ahmed looks to tuck it across the line and drops into the leg side for one.

Abrar Ahmed walks in at number 9.

Zakary Foulkes to Jahandad Khan, OUT! TAKEN! Zakary Foulkes gets among the wickets now. Bowls a slower off-cutter, back of a length, just outside off. Jahandad Khan looks to hit this across the line but it comes off the outer half of the blade and goes straight up toward the mid-off region. Michael Bracewell inside the circle takes a regulation catch. Another one bites the dust for Pakistan.

Kyle Jamieson to Jahandad Khan, Back of a length, angled into the middle. Jahandad Khan mistimes the pull toward deep mid-on for one. End of a sensational spell from Kyle Jamieson.

Kyle Jamieson to Jahandad Khan, Fuller than the length, on off stump line. Pushed toward the deep backward point with a vertical bat. They get two for it.

Kyle Jamieson to Jahandad Khan, Short of a good length, going over the stumps. Jahandad Khan heaves across the line but fails to make any contact.

Kyle Jamieson to Jahandad Khan, Back of a length outside off. Jahandad Khan swings and misses.

Kyle Jamieson to Shaheen Afridi, LEG BYE! Good hard length from Jamieson, leaping up as Shaheen Afridi looked to swing leg-side. He wore it off the shoulder, seeing it loop down to third for a leg bye.

Kyle Jamieson to Jahandad Khan, On a length, angled into the middle. Jahandad Khan taps into the off-side for one.

Ish Sodhi to Shaheen Afridi, Wrong'un, wide outside the off-stump. Shaheen Afridi cuts and misses. End of a tidy spell from Sodhi.

Ish Sodhi to Shaheen Afridi, Flighted full, on the middle. Bunted back to the bowler.

Ish Sodhi to Shaheen Afridi, Googly, wide outside off. Shaheen Afridi plays and misses.

Shaheen Afridi walks in at number 9.

Ish Sodhi to Abdul Samad, OUT! CAUGHT! Ish Sodhi gets his second! Bowls it full, around off. Abdul Samad gets low and looks to clear the long-off fence. It comes off the cue end and goes straight to Michael Bracewell near the boundary. He makes no mistake and Pakistan slide further.

Ish Sodhi to Jahandad Khan, Sodhi tosses one just outside off.  Jahandad Khan backs away on the drive and slices it over cover for a single.

Ish Sodhi to Jahandad Khan, In the air and dropped! Tossed up full, just outside off. Jahandad Khan slogs it across the line but gets the top edge that lands just behind the bowler. Ish Sodhi goes for the catch but shells down the chance.

Michael Bracewell to Jahandad Khan, Flatter arm ball, on the middle and leg. Jahandad Khan nudges it toward square leg for one.

Michael Bracewell to Abdul Samad, Flatter on the middle. Abdul Samad swipes this toward deep mid-wicket for a single.

Michael Bracewell to Jahandad Khan, Fuller on off. Jahandad Khan pushes it to point for one.

Michael Bracewell to Jahandad Khan, Flighted full, outside off. Jahandad Khan heaves across the line but misses.

Michael Bracewell to Abdul Samad, Too full, on off. Abdul Samad gets low and slogs this toward the deep backward square leg. The batters settle for a single.

Michael Bracewell to Jahandad Khan, Full, on off. Jahandad Khan pushes this to long-off for one.

Ish Sodhi to Jahandad Khan, Googly, around off. Jahandad Khan drops this to backward point for a single.

Ish Sodhi to Jahandad Khan, SIX! STAND AND DELIVER! Dropped short on off. Jahandad Khan stands tall and pumps it over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie.

Ish Sodhi to Jahandad Khan, Wrong'un, on off. Blocked from the crease.

Ish Sodhi to Jahandad Khan, Tossed up on off. Jahandad Khan prods and keeps it out.

Ish Sodhi to Jahandad Khan, Low full-toss on off, pushed straight to the fielder at cover.

Ish Sodhi to Abdul Samad, Tossed up well outside off, swept backward of square on the on-side for a single.

Jahandad Khan walks in at number 8.

Jacob Duffy to Khushdil Shah, OUT! TAKEN! Jacob Duffy gets the set batter. Short of a good length, wide outside off. Khushdil Shah goes hard at it and cuts it straight to Finn Allen at the backward point region who takes a sharp catch. Pakistan slide further.

Jacob Duffy to Abdul Samad, Short of a good length and well wide of off, steered behind square on the off-side for a single.

Jacob Duffy to Abdul Samad, On a length and at the stumps, tucked backward of square on the on-side and they scamper back for the second.

Jacob Duffy to Abdul Samad, WIDE! Banged in short, down the leg. Abdul Samad ducks under it and lets it go. Wide signaled.

Jacob Duffy to Abdul Samad, Short of a good length, on off. Abdul Samad is behind the line of the ball and taps into the off-side.

Jacob Duffy to Abdul Samad, Back of a length again, on off. Abdul Samad gets on top of the bounce and dabs this toward backward point.

Jacob Duffy to Khushdil Shah, Back of a length outside off. Khushdil Shah plays it away from the body and guides this to deep third for a single.

Ish Sodhi to Khushdil Shah, Flatter wrong'un, on off. Khushdil Shah knocks this toward long-on for one.

Ish Sodhi to Abdul Samad, First runs for Abdul Samad in International cricket. Tossed up on off. Abdul Samad prods and turns it off the inner half toward square leg for one.

Ish Sodhi to Abdul Samad, Flatter leg break, on off. Abdul Samad defends from the crease.

Ish Sodhi to Abdul Samad, Tossed up on the middle. Pushed back to the bowler.

Ish Sodhi to Abdul Samad, Floated full, just outside off. Abdul Samad looks to drive through covers but gets the inside edge onto his pad.

Abdul Samad walks in at number 7.

Ish Sodhi to Salman Agha, OUT! TAKEN! Ish Sodhi breaks the partnership! Tosses it full, just outside off. Salman Agha brings out the reverse sweep but hits it toward the deep backward point region. Tim Seifert runs across to his left and takes a sharp catch near the ropes. Salman Agha trudges off the field and Pakistan have lost half of their side now.

Michael Bracewell to Khushdil Shah, SIX MORE! Much fuller and quicker on off. Khushdil Shah advances and powers it flat and over the long-on fence for back-to-back sixes. 15 runs coming off the over. Pakistan have started to up the ante now.

Michael Bracewell to Khushdil Shah, SIX! HIGH AND HANDSOME! Tosses it full, wide outside off. Khushdil Shah shimmies down the pitch and smashes it over the bowler for a biggie.

Michael Bracewell to Salman Agha, Flat and quick, follows the batter, outside the leg stump. Salman Agha makes room and punches this to long-on for a single.

Michael Bracewell to Khushdil Shah, Flatter on off. Khushdil Shah knocks this to long-on for one.

Michael Bracewell to Khushdil Shah, Tossed up full, around off. Khushdil Shah pushes this into covers.

Michael Bracewell to Salman Agha, Tad short, turning into the middle. Salman Agha hangs back and nudges it to square leg for one.

Time for Drinks! After losing four wickets inside the first five overs, Pakistan have done well to stitch a steady stand with Khushdil Shah and Salman Agha in the middle. The duo have got off to a decent start and will look to kick on from here and get to a competitive score. New Zealand, on the other hand, bowled brilliantly and removed the top-order batters quickly. They will hope to keep the pressure and take wickets at regular wickets.

Ish Sodhi to Khushdil Shah, SIX! BOOM! Flighted full, just outside off. Khushdil Shah gets on his knee and slogs it over the deep mid-wicket fence for a smoking hit. 14 runs off the over from Ish Sodhi. Just what Pakistan needed.

Ish Sodhi to Salman Agha, Floated full, on the middle and leg. Salman Agha makes room and eases it through covers for one.

Ish Sodhi to Salman Agha, FOUR! TOP SHOT! Tossed up full, just outside off. Salman Agha brings out the reverse sweep and gets it over the short third fielder for a much needed boundary.

Ish Sodhi to Khushdil Shah, Floated full, around off. Khushdil Shah advances and drills this to long-off for a single.

Ish Sodhi to Khushdil Shah, Tossed up wrong'un, on off. Khushdil Shah defends from the crease.

Ish Sodhi to Khushdil Shah, Floated full, on off. Khushdil Shah hits it hard toward the long-on fence for a couple.

Michael Bracewell to Khushdil Shah, Tossed up on the middle and leg. Khushdil Shah advances and eases this to long-on for a single.

Michael Bracewell to Khushdil Shah, Too full, on the middle and leg. Khushdil Shah gets low for the swipe but misses and somehow gets stuck on the helmet. The physio comes out for a mandatory concussion check. He looks fine now to carry now.

Michael Bracewell to Salman Agha, LEG BYE! Flatter delivery, on the middle and leg. Salman Agha looks to play the reverse but it comes off the pad and rolls to short fine leg for a leg bye.

Michael Bracewell to Salman Agha, WIDES! Michael Bracewell slips this one down the leg as Salman Agha advances down the pitch. It goes past the batter and the keeper, runs down to fine leg for a couple of wides.

Michael Bracewell to Khushdil Shah, Tad short, wide outside off. Khushdil Shah cuts this to deep point for one.

Michael Bracewell to Salman Agha, Flatter length ball, on the middle and leg. Salman Agha advances and knocks this toward mid-on for one.

Michael Bracewell to Salman Agha, Tossed up full, outside off. Salman Agha looks to play the reverse sweep but does not connect.

Zakary Foulkes to Khushdil Shah, On a length, just outside off. Khushdil Shah taps it onto the pitch and the ball rolls toward the keeper.

Zakary Foulkes to Khushdil Shah, Good sharp bumper. Khushdil Shah shaped to hook, before bailing out, leaving it through to the keeper.

Zakary Foulkes to Khushdil Shah, Low full toss on off. Khushdil Shah bunts it straight to mid-off.

Zakary Foulkes to Khushdil Shah, On a length, angling into the middle and leg. Khushdil Shah has clipped this through mid-wicket for two more.

Zakary Foulkes to Khushdil Shah, Goes short, angled down the leg. Khushdil Shah is rushed on the pull but helps this toward fine leg for a couple.

Zakary Foulkes to Salman Agha, EDGED AND PUT DOWN! It was full and wide, with Salman Agha skipping down whilst looking over the cover. He didn't get close enough to the ball though, getting a healthy edge! Daryl Mitchell at the first slip, dove to his left, but it just burst off the tips of his fingers.

Michael Bracewell to Khushdil Shah, Much fuller, on off. Khushdil Shah bunts it back at Michael Bracewell. Tidy over from the Kiwi skipper.

Michael Bracewell to Khushdil Shah, Flatter on off. Khushdil Shah knocks it back to the bowler.

Michael Bracewell to Salman Agha, Tossed up on the middle and leg. Salman Agha eases it through mid-wicket for one.

Michael Bracewell to Khushdil Shah, DROPPED! Short and wide outside off. Khushdil Shah cuts it hard and goes straight to the backward point fielder where Tim Seifert puts down a simple chance. Single taken.

Michael Bracewell to Khushdil Shah, Floated on the middle. Pushed back to the bowler.

Michael Bracewell to Khushdil Shah, Flat and quick, around off. Khushdil Shah cuts and misses.

Michael Bracewell comes into the attack now.

Zakary Foulkes to Salman Agha, Appeal but the umpire is unmoved. Hard length delivery, around the fourth peg Salman Agha pressed forward and tried to push it down the ground. The ball just nipped away to evade the outside edge. New Zealand takes the review. Nothing on UltraEdge. Salman Agha survives. This is the second lowest Powerplay score for Pakistan.

Zakary Foulkes to Khushdil Shah, Zakary Foulkes goes full, on off. Khushdil Shah drives it toward mid-off and scampers for a quick single.

Zakary Foulkes to Khushdil Shah, Hard-length delivery, on the middle and leg. Khushdil Shah gets on the front foot and defends forward.

Zakary Foulkes to Khushdil Shah, On a length, attacking the stumps. Khushdil Shah defends into the short cover region.

Zakary Foulkes to Khushdil Shah, Good length delivery, angled into the middle and leg. Khushdil Shah comes forward, gets squared, and bunts into the off-side.

Zakary Foulkes to Khushdil Shah, WIDE! Full and angling down the leg. Khushdil Shah plays and misses. Wide signaled.

Zakary Foulkes to Salman Agha, Nips back sharply off a length, on the middle and leg. Salman Agha prods forward and turns into the leg side for a single.

Zakary Foulkes comes into the attack.

Kyle Jamieson to Khushdil Shah, Pitched full, on off. Khushdil Shah gets his bat down and bunts it off the inner half toward mid-on.

Kyle Jamieson to Khushdil Shah, Good length, curving back in over middle. Khushdil Shah sees it past the inside edge but just sees it away off the thigh guard.

Khushdil Shah walks in at number 6.

Kyle Jamieson to Shadab Khan, OUT! WHAT AN OUTSTANDING CATCH! Kyle Jamieson gets his third. Bowls it short of a good length, around off. Shadab Khan has a poke at it and this flies off the outer half toward the gully region. Tim Robinson there, takes a screamer, diving to his left. Pakistan slider into further trouble.

Kyle Jamieson to Shadab Khan, Length delivery, wide outside off. Left alone by Shadab Khan.

Kyle Jamieson to Shadab Khan, Back of a length, outside off. Shadab Khan fetches it from outside off and drag-pulls it through mid-wicket for a couple.

Kyle Jamieson to Shadab Khan, PEACH! Short of a good length, lands just outside off, and shapes away further to beat the outside edge of Shadab Khan.

Kyle Jamieson will continue into his third over.

Jacob Duffy to Salman Agha, Nagging length delivery, around off. Salman Agha pokes at it but gets beaten.

Jacob Duffy to Salman Agha, In the air but safe! Goes full, on off. Salman Agha is squared and gets the leading edge that lands just in front of the short cover fielder.

Jacob Duffy to Salman Agha, FOUR! NICELY DONE! Good length delivery, just outside off. Salman Agha plays this late and guides it past the second slip fielder for a boundary.

Jacob Duffy to Salman Agha, Short of a good length, on off. Salman Agha charges down the pitch, creates some room and guides it past the backward point fielder for a couple.

Jacob Duffy to Salman Agha, Fuller than a good length, on off. Salman Agha taps into the off-side and looks to take the single but decides against it.

Jacob Duffy to Salman Agha, Back of a length, in the channel, just outside off. Salman Agha looks to defend from the crease but the ball goes past his outside edge.

Kyle Jamieson to Shadab Khan, Back of a length, shaping away, around off. Shadab Khan shoulders arms to it.

Kyle Jamieson to Salman Agha, On a length, on off. Salman Agha taps into the off-side and crosses for a quick single.

Kyle Jamieson to Salman Agha, Kyle Jamieson is running riot! Lands it on a good length and shapes away, just outside off. Salman Agha looks to defend from the crease but is beaten on the edge.

Kyle Jamieson to Shadab Khan, Back of a length delivery around the leg stump line. Shadab Khan tucks it around the corner for a single.

Shadab Khan walks in at number 5.

Kyle Jamieson to Irfan Khan, OUT! EDGED AND GONE! Short of a good length, moving away, around off. Irfan Khan looks to dab this down to deep third but gets a healthy edge that is taken with ease by Mitchell Hay behind the stumps. Pakistan are in deep trouble now. They are three down inside the first three overs.

Kyle Jamieson to Irfan Khan, Short of a good length, comes back into the batter. Irfan Khan looks to block from the crease but it nips back and brushes off the thigh pad, going to the keeper.

Jacob Duffy to Irfan Khan, LEADING EDGE! Hard-length ball on off, to which Irfan Khan just pushed at! It looped off the shoulder of the bat, falling safe as it dribbled down to deep third for a single.

Jacob Duffy to Irfan Khan, Another play and a miss! Length, rising through as it shaped away wide of off. Irfan Khan looked to push at it, seeing it wide off the edge of the bat.

Jacob Duffy to Irfan Khan, Hard-length delivery, angling in, just outside off. Irfan Khan looks to defend from the crease but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Jacob Duffy to Irfan Khan, On a good length, around off. Irfan Khan has a poke at it and gets beaten.

Irfan Khan walks in at number 4.

Jacob Duffy to Hasan Nawaz, OUT! CAUGHT! On a hard-length, just outside off. Hasan Nawaz looks to heave it across the line but gets the outside edge that flies down to the deep third region. Kyle Jamieson there, takes a sharp catch and both the openers are back in the hut. Pakistan are two down pretty early in the innings.

Jacob Duffy to Hasan Nawaz, Length ball outside off. Swings away. Hasan Nawaz plays down the wrong line and gets beaten on the outside edge.

Salman Agha walks in at number 3. Jacob Duffy will share the attack.

Kyle Jamieson to Mohammad Haris, OUT! EDGED AND GONE! Kyle Jamieson has his man! Bowls it on a good length, just outside off, and gets some extra bounce to it. Mohammad Haris finally gets some bat to it but ends up edging to the keeper, Mitchell Hay behind the stumps. He makes no mistake and New Zealand get their first breakthrough. Mohammad Haris trudges off for a duck.

Kyle Jamieson to Mohammad Haris, Make that five dots in a row! Short of a good length and goes over the stumps with some extra bounce. Mohammad Haris makes room for the ugly hoick but doesn't get any bat to it.

Kyle Jamieson to Mohammad Haris, And again! Back of a length delivery, around off. Mohammad Haris shimmies down the pitch, has a poke at the ball but fails to get any bat on it.

Kyle Jamieson to Mohammad Haris, Sharp swing and bounce! Short of a good length, moving away, around off. Mohammad Haris has a poke at it and gets beaten again.

Kyle Jamieson to Mohammad Haris, Back of a length, shaping away, outside off. Mohammad Haris charges down the pitch for the heave but fails to connect.

Kyle Jamieson to Mohammad Haris, Lands it on a length and nips away around off. Mohammad Haris goes for the drive but gets beaten on the outside edge.

We are done with the pre-match formalities and all set for action to begin. Mohammad Haris and Hasan Nawaz stride out to open the innings for Pakistan. It will be Kyle Jamieson to start with the ball for New Zealand. Let's play...

The teams and match officials make their way to the ground for the National Anthems. We start with the anthem of Pakistan, followed by that of New Zealand. Live action is coming shortly.

Salman Agha, the skipper of Pakistan shares that it looks like a good wicket and they don’t feel it will change much. Adds that they are going with new combinations and he is excited for this young batch of players.

Michael Bracewell, the skipper of New Zealand has won the toss and opts to bowl. Says that it's a great wicket and adds that they will hope to utilise the bounce at the Hagley Oval. Shares that he is glad to get the captaincy armband in front of the home crowd and he is looking forward to it.

Pakistan (Playing XI) - Mohammad Haris(WK), Hasan Nawaz, Salman Agha(C), Irfan Khan, Shadab Khan, Abdul Samad, Khushdil Shah, Jahandad Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Abrar Ahmed.

New Zealand (Playing XI) - Tim Seifert(WK), Finn Allen, Tim Robinson, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Hay, Michael Bracewell(C), Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy, Zakary Foulkes.

Toss Update - New Zealand have won the toss and opted to BOWL.

With a fresh squad and a point to prove, Pakistan will hope to start the series on a positive note. So, who do you think will take the early advantage? We'll find out soon. Stay tuned for the toss and team news!

On the other hand, Pakistan will be eager to bounce back after a disappointing exit in the Champions Trophy, where they were knocked out in the first round. The Men in Green have assembled a young squad, hoping to turn their fortunes around. Salman Ali Agha has been appointed captain, with Shadab Khan as his deputy. New faces like Abdul Samad, Irfan Khan, and Hassan Nawaz will bring added firepower, while Mohammad Haris, Sufiyan Muqeem, and Jahandad Khan add variety to the lineup. The pace attack will be spearheaded by Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Mohammad Ali, while Abrar Ahmed will look to carry his ODI form into the T20I series with his leg-spin. 

New Zealand have been in solid form in the limited-overs format, but they will be missing a few key players for this series. The team will be led by Michael Bracewell and will rely on explosive batters like Finn Allen, Tim Seifert, and Mark Chapman. Daryl Mitchell and James Neesham provide all-round balance, while Will O’Rourke, Ben Sears, and Jacob Duffy will be pivotal with the ball, offering a strong challenge to Pakistan.

After finishing as runners-up in the recently concluded Champions Trophy, the Black Caps are set to host Pakistan for a limited-overs tour featuring five T20Is and three ODIs. A warm welcome to our coverage of the first T20I in the five-match series between New Zealand and Pakistan, from the Hagley Oval in Christchurch. 

 …MATCHDAY…

The 2025 cricketing calendar is packed with exciting fixtures and with the much-awaited return of the ICC Champions Trophy now out of the way, we are back to a bilateral series that is going to be played between Champions Trophy hosts Pakistan and Champions Trophy runners-up New Zealand. It will be Pakistan traveling to New Zealand for a couple of white-ball series' that include 5 T20Is and 3 ODIs and the tour will commence at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch with the 1st T20I. Both sides finished the Champions Trophy with a bit of disappointment as the Kiwis suffered another heartbreak in the finals, whereas Pakistan failed to reach the semifinals even after being the defending champions and playing at home and a lot has been made of that performance which has enforced a lot of personnel changes atleats for the T20I part of this series. New Zealand will also be without a lot of big names and will be led by Michael Bracewell who did have a good Champions Trophy and there are a few names retained from that squad with the likes of Will O'Rourke and Kyle Jamieson leading the bowling attack. A couple of seasoned campaigners return to the fore in the form of all-rounder James Neesham and leg spinner Ish Sodhi. The Kiwis do have a good mix of youth and experience, and with the focus now shifting to the T20 World Cup of 2026 to be played in India, a lot of players in this squad of just 13 will be looking to impress and try to get more of a starting role in the team. Pakistan, on the other hand, have a new-look team but they have also retained the likes of Haris Rauf and Shaheen Afridi from the Champions Trophy along with leg spinner Abrar Ahmed and it will be Salman Agha who will lead the T20I side. Shadab Khan, a former mainstay of the national side, also returns for the T20I series and he will play deputy to Salman Agha as they look to forego the blemishes of the Champions Trophy and usher in a new dawn. Hard-hitting top-order batter Mohammad Haris also returns and Usman Khan keeps his place but that batting lineup does feature a lot of inexperienced players and the likes of Hasan Nawaz and Abdul Samad might even make their debuts in this series. Right then, the Kiwis will have the home advantage and will be the more confident side but with so many changes in the Pakistan squad, they might not have the pressure of that Champions Trophy disappointment and in the end, it might turn out to be a fascinating contest. Who do you think will come out on top in the opening encounter?