LAHORE, Pakistan — In the inaugural match of the tri-nation series, New Zealand won the toss and chose to bat first at the recently renovated Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday.
This tournament, which also includes South Africa, serves as an important preparation phase for all participating teams ahead of the Champions Trophy set to commence in Karachi on February 19.
Babar Azam is set to open the batting alongside Fakhar Zaman, marking only the third time Azam will bat in this position in his One Day International (ODI) career. This lineup adjustment comes after Saim Ayub was unavailable for both the series and the upcoming Champions Trophy due to an ankle fracture.
In a notable return, all-rounder Khushdil Shah, who also contributes as a left-arm spinner, is back in the ODI format and is set to make his first appearance since August 2022.
On the New Zealand side, concerns remain regarding fast bowler Lockie Ferguson’s fitness; he was not included in the opening match after suffering a hamstring injury during the ongoing ILT20 tournament in the UAE. Consequently, Devon Conway and Mark Chapman have also been left out. However, the team will rely on the experience of Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell in the middle order, alongside Tom Latham.
The Gaddafi Stadium has undergone significant renovations over a record span of 117 days and was officially inaugurated by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday. The stadium is one of three venues upgraded for the Champions Trophy, with Karachi and Rawalpindi being the other two locations for the matches.
In addition to the opener, Lahore will also host the second game of the tri-nation series between South Africa and New Zealand on Monday. Karachi will then take over to host the final two matches of the series, including the championship game on February 14.
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**Team Lineups:**
**Pakistan:** Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Tayyab Tahir, Salman Ali Agha, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.
**New Zealand:** Rachin Ravindra, Will Young, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (captain), Matt Henry, Ben Sears, Will O’Rourke.
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