Captains Tom Latham and Babar Azam with the ODI trophy [Twitter]
After an exciting five-match T20I series that ended 2-2, both Pakistan and New Zealand are gearing up to clash in a five-match One-Day International (ODI) series beginning tomorrow. The first ODI will be played at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, where hosts Pakistan have won 14 matches and hold an unbeaten three-match winning streak over the Black Caps here.
Pakistan will be led by Babar Azam, while in the absence of Kane Williamson, New Zealand will be captained by Tom Latham.
Team Preview
Pakistan
Babar will want to kick-start Pakistan's World Cup preparations with a win, having promised that the management will not experiment much. Grant Bradburn and Co. will field anything less than a full-strength Pakistan side and make amends for their problems in the T20Is.
With Mohammad Haris' late inclusion in the side, they might have Mohammad Rizwan let go of his wicketkeeping gloves in the series and get back into ODI runs.
Naseem Shah, after a lean patch, will be eager to get back into the ODI groove against a side where he has tasted success in the format.
New Zealand
The last time the two sides met in January, New Zealand beat the hosts 2-1, however, it was a full-strength side that had the likes of Kane Williamson, Devon Conway, Tim Southee, and Mitchell Santner.
Despite levelling the T20Is, the inexperienced Kiwi batters will be tested against spin-friendly conditions, which could tilt things in Pakistan's favour. For many players, this will be an audition for the ICC World Cup 2023, which is scheduled to take place in India sometime in October this year.
New Zealand will be bolstered by the arrival of Henry Nicholls and Tom Blundell.
Match Details
Date & Time: April 27, 03:00 PM IST
Venue: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
Live Streaming and Broadcast: SonyLIV and Sony Sports Network
Pitch Report
As seen in the T20Is, the track at Rawalpindi offers assistance to batters and is a graveyard for bowlers. The team that wins the toss should bowl first as freshness might help bowlers in the first few overs before it becomes a batting paradise.
Probable Playing XI
Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Haris, Haris Sohail, Agha Salman, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Haris Hauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Naseem Shah.
New Zealand: Tom Blundell, Henry Nicholls, Mark Chapman, Tom Latham (c and wk), Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Rachin Ravindra, Ish Sodhi, Henry Shipley, Adam Milne, and Matt Henry.
Cricket Exchange Fantasy Tips
Wicket-Keepers: Mohammad Rizwan, Tom Latham
Batters: Fakhar Zaman, Mark Chapman, Babar Azam
All-Rounders: Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Daryl Mitchell
Bowlers: Haris Rauf, Adam Milne, Shaheen Shah Afridi
Captain: Babar Azam
Vice Captain: Tom Latham
Prediction
Both statistically and experience-wise, Pakistan are firm favourites to claim the first ODI, however, it won't be an easy task with New Zealand showing grit and resistance.
 "Vishal Mehra")
