Pakistan opt to bat first against New Zealand in tri-nation series opener

Pakistan have won the toss and elected to bat first against New Zealand in the opening match of the tri-nation ODI series at Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday.

Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan expressed confidence in his side’s batting lineup, stating that they would look to put up a strong total on the board.

Meanwhile, New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner said his team would aim to restrict the hosts and chase down the target efficiently.

Playing XIs

Pakistan have opted for a strong batting combination, with Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman set to open the innings. Mohammad Rizwan, who also leads the side, will be joined by Kamran Ghulam, Tayyab Tahir, and Salman Ali Agha in the middle order.

The bowling attack features left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, and leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed, alongside all-rounder Khushdil Shah.

For New Zealand, the squad includes a mix of experienced and young players, with Santner leading the side.

Head-to-head record

Pakistan and New Zealand have faced each other in 116 ODIs, with the Green Shirts winning 61 encounters. The Black Caps have claimed victory in 52 matches, while one game ended in a tie, and three produced no result.

• Matches played: 116
• Pakistan won: 61
• New Zealand won: 52
• Tied: 1
• No result: 3