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Rizwan Confirms Babar Azam To Open For Pakistan As Mitchell Santner Opts To Bat First

Sakshi Sharma

New Zealand won the toss and opted to bat first (Source:AP)New Zealand won the toss and opted to bat first (Source:AP)

The wait for the much-awaited Tri-Nation series is finally over, as Pakistan will face New Zealand in the series opener at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on February 8. For the first match of the series, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and opted to bat first. 

Talking about the team combinations, at the toss Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan said that Babar Azam will open the batting for 'Men in Green'. For Kiwis Devon Conway have missed a place in the playing XI. 

As the teams compete with each other, South Africa, New Zealand and Pakistan will focus on refining their combinations and strategies. Each match will be a critical step to ensure that they are fully prepared to make an impact in the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025.  

The tournament will played in the round-robin format, in which each team will play one match against the other two, with the top two teams will advance to the final. 

New Zealand vs Pakistan 1st ODI: Playing XIs 

Pakistan Playing XI:  Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Rizwan (c), Agha Salman (vc), Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed

New Zealand Playing XI: Rachin Ravindra, Will Young, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Matt Henry, Ben Sears, William O'Rourke

New Zealand vs Pakistan 1st ODI: Captains' Thoughts

Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan Captain): "It is a good opportunity for us to prepare for Champions Trophy. We don't have a match in the Champions Trophy here but if we get to semi-final, we will play here. We want to be ready for what's there. As I said King will be there. Babar Azam will open the batting. We are going with Abrar, Naseem, Haris and Shaheen. We have some all-rounders in the middle. 

I am happy with chasing. It doesn't matter. Win is a win but we want to prepare for Champions Trophy as well."

Mitchell Santner (New Zealand Captain): "We are going to bat first. It looks like a good wicket don't think it will change much. We had a nightmare the other night and it was not that great. Yeah, we want to put some runs on the board and put them under pressure.

The tri-series is very important for us and South Africa, playing games under the conditions and seeing what these pitches do coming into the champions trophy. We have 3 quicks and 4 spinners and the rest can bat."