You couldn’t ask for more, as after a long time, the Champions Trophy is returning. The last edition took place in 2017, where Pakistan became the champion. Now, the same Men in Green are set to host the Champions Trophy matches and will play the tournament opener against New Zealand, who are fresh off a Tri-series win, having defeated both Pakistan and South Africa.
This final match victory came as a shock to many, as Pakistan, who were looking solid after defeating South Africa, seemed set for a good run but ended up losing. However, what better time than the Champions Trophy? Each game is crucial, and a turnaround here could change everything.
The Pakistan vs New Zealand Champions Trophy match is set to take place on February 19 at the National Stadium, Karachi. So, how can we expect the Karachi pitch to behave? Take a look at the National Stadium pitch report ahead of the Pakistan vs New Zealand Champions Trophy match.
National Bank Stadium pitch report
Karachi’s surface usually offers a lot to batters, making it a batter’s paradise, as we’ve seen plenty of runs scored here. Recently, we witnessed Pakistan chasing 353 runs against South Africa, showcasing how favourable the pitch is for batters. However, pitches like these have faced criticism, as there’s limited things for bowlers. The team that wins the toss has an added advantage, and most teams prefer to chase at this venue, as the dew makes conditions more challenging for bowlers in the second innings. Therefore, we can certainly expect the team that wins the toss to opt to bowl first.
National Bank Stadium stats
| Statistic | Value |
| Total Matches | 78 |
| Matches Won Batting First | 36 |
| Matches Won Bowling First | 39 |
| Average 1st Innings Score | 239 |
| Average 2nd Innings Score | 205 |
| Highest Total Recorded | 374/4 (50 Ovs) By IND vs HK |
| Lowest Total Recorded | 93/10 (40.4 Ovs) By PAKW vs SLW |
| Highest Score Chased | 355/4 (49 Ovs) By PAK vs RSA |
| Lowest Score Defended | 123/10 (45.2 Ovs) By SLW vs PAKW |
Pak and NZ squad for Champions Trophy
| Pakistan | New Zealand |
| Mohammad Rizwan (c & wk) | Mitchell Santner (c) |
| Babar Azam | Michael Bracewell |
| Fakhar Zaman | Mark Chapman |
| Kamran Ghulam | Devon Conway |
| Saud Shakeel | Kyle Jamieson |
| Tayyab Tahir | Matt Henry |
| Faheem Ashraf | Tom Latham (wk) |
| Khushdil Shah | Daryl Mitchell |
| Salman Ali Agha | Will O’Rourke |
| Usman Khan | Glenn Phillips |
| Abrar Ahmed | Rachin Ravindra |
| Haris Rauf | Nathan Smith |
| Mohammad Hasnain | Kane Williamson |
| Naseem Shah | Will Young |
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | Jacob Duffy |
