Pakistan Opts to Bat First in Tri-Series Final Against New Zealand after Bringing in the X Factor

For the final of the Tri-Nation series at Karachi’s National Stadium on February 14, Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat first against New Zealand. In a key change, all-rounder Faheem Ashraf replaced pacer Mohammad Hasnain in Pakistan’s playing XI.

New Zealand entered the match with strong momentum, having dominated both Pakistan and South Africa in earlier games. Pakistan, on the other hand, had to fight hard to reach the final, pulling off a record chase against South Africa in a virtual semi-final. Injury concerns affected both teams — New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra was ruled out after a head injury, while Pakistan’s Haris Rauf missed the game due to a back strain.

Pakistan’s Playing XI: Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (C/WK), Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed.

New Zealand’s Playing XI: Will Young, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Nathan Smith, Jacob Duffy, William O’Rourke.

Santner noted the pitch had less grass and expected good batting conditions but emphasized early wickets were crucial. Rizwan stated that Pakistan was also preparing for their upcoming match on February 19, highlighting the team’s positive mindset and improvement across all formats.

This high-stakes final had both teams aiming for victory, with Pakistan seeking redemption and New Zealand looking to continue their dominant form.