3 Players Who Can Pose Threat To Pakistan In ODI Tri-Series

Aashay Chopade

Fakhar Zaman might make a comeback for Pakistan in Champions Trophy 2025 (Source:@thesportsbreeze/X.com)Fakhar Zaman might make a comeback for Pakistan in Champions Trophy 2025 (Source:@thesportsbreeze/X.com)

The Champions Trophy 2025 is around the corner, and before that all-important tournament, Pakistan, New Zealand and South Africa have decided to play a short ODI tri-series to sharpen their preparation for the tournament. The series will start from 8th of February and the final will be played on 14th of February, five days before the start of Champions Trophy.

The series is an important one for all the three nations and all the teams would be hoping to get some wins under their belt in conditions where they will play Champions Trophy later. There will be world-class players on display and Pakistan would have won their last three ODI series under Mohammad Rizwan would be hoping to dominate the proceedings.

Things won't be easy though as New Zealand and South Africa have done well in ODI formats for a long time now, and they have the ability to beat Pakistan. So, ahead of the series, let's see three top players who can be a threat to Pakistan.

3. Rachin Ravindra

The youngster impressed one and all in the 2023 World Cup as he scored 578 runs in 10 innings at an average of 64.22 with three hundreds and two fifties. So, that performance in the last 50-over ICC tournament will surely help his confidence and as the runs came in Asian conditions, we can expect Rachin Ravindra to deliver.

The southpaw also has a century in the format against Pakistan and as he would bat in the top order, the Kiwi would get ample chances to get big score on flat decks. He is a handy left-arm spinner too and can chip in with crucial wickets, making him one of the threat for Pakistan in the upcoming Tri-Series.

2. Heinrich Klaasen 

Heinrich Klaasen is one of the most improved cricketers in the last couple of years or so. He has been brilliant in white-ball formats and his ability to take the game away from the opposition with his insane hitting is second to none. His ODI average is 43.19 in 53 innings at a strike-rate of 116.19.

He has the ability to soak in the pressure and get going when his team needs, and is a great player of spin, something that one does not associate with South African batters. Also, Pakistan played against South Africa recently, and in that series, Heinrich Klaasen was the only shining light for the Proteas, scoring fifties in all the matches.

1. Kane Williamson

The former New Zealand is known for his consistency and he is expected to do the same in the Tri-Series against Pakistan. In the last few years, his progress has been hampered by injuries, but whenever he has made his comeback, he has scored runs. The right-handed batter has an average of 48.64 in ODIs with 13 centuries and 45 fifties, and his record against Pakistan is even better.

Williamson has hit three centuries and seven fifties against Pakistan in ODI cricket at an average of 57.04 and has 1198 runs in 22 innings. So, he clearly knows how to score runs against Pakistan's bowling attack and has two fifties in three matches played in Pakistan. The conditions are expected to be good for batting in the Tri-series too, so expect Williamson to pile on some big runs.