Pakistan will open the Champions Trophy 2025 by squaring off against New Zealand on February 19. Karachi’s National Stadium will host the opening clash starting at 2:30 PM IST.
Hosts Pakistan will be keen to start the campaign on a winning note. New Zealand, on the other hand, will look to continue their winning momentum after winning the tri-series last week.
As both teams go head-on, here’s the pitch and weather report for the National Bank Stadium in Karachi.
National Stadium, Karachi: ODI Match Stats
| Total Matches Played | 56 |
| Matches Won Batting First | 26 |
| Matches Won Batting Second | 28 |
| Matches Tied | 0 |
| No Result | 2 |
| Won Toss & Won Match | 24 |
| Lost Toss & Won Match | 30 |
| Average First Innings Total | 246 |
See Also:- Champions Trophy 2025 Pakistan Squad
So far, 56 ODIs have been played at the National Stadium in Karachi. Out of those, teams have won 28 matches while chasing, and 26 times teams have defended their totals successfully.
On average, teams score 246 runs while batting first. But the average score may not be competitive, since batting conditions become better in the second half. So teams will have to go beyond the mark and possibly get 300-plus on the board.
PAK vs NZ 1st Match, CT2025: Overview
Tournament: Champions Trophy 2025
Match: Pakistan vs New Zealand, 1st Match
Venue: National Stadium, Karachi
Date: February 19, 2025
Time: 2:30 PM IST / 2:00 PM Local
Broadcast: Star Sports Network (TV)
Live Stream: JioHotstar
Read Also:- Champions Trophy 2025 New Zealand Squad
PAK vs NZ 1st Match, CT2025: National Stadium, Karachi Pitch & Weather Report
Batting-Friendly Conditions: The pitch at the National Stadium in Karachi favours batters a lot. There is a good bounce and carry, which will help batters execute their strokes.
There will be a little assistance to pacers with the new ball, while spinners may get some turn. As the match progresses, the batting conditions will become even better. So teams will choose the field first after winning the toss.
During the recently concluded tri-series, Pakistan chased down South Africa’s 353-run target with an over to spare. Likewise, New Zealand thrashed Pakistan’s total of 242 with 20 balls in hand in the final.
So chasing a target at the National Stadium has been fruitful for teams in recent games.
Good Weather: The weather conditions in Karachi are likely to be good throughout the match. There is no bad weather or rain in sight.
It will be sunny with clear skies, and the day temperature will hover around 30. So we will have a full match without any weather interruption.
