On Saturday, Napier will be the stage for an exciting clash between New Zealand and Pakistan as they face off in the first ODI of their three-match series. Both teams have a lot at stake in this match, with New Zealand brimming with confidence after their dominant 4-1 victory in the preceding five-match T20I series, while Pakistan look to bounce back, bolstered by the return of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan.

New Zealand head into this series on a high, having firmly established their dominance in the T20I format. The Black Caps showcased a balanced approach, securing an impressive 4-1 win over Pakistan, under the leadership of Michael Bracewell, who once again will be at the helm for the ODIs. Tom Latham, who was due to lead New Zealand in ODIs, has been sidelined with a fractured hand. With a strong bowling and batting lineup, New Zealand would aim to get off to a promising start. 

On the other hand, Pakistan will be looking to turn the page on their T20I series loss and start fresh in the longer format. The return of seasoned players Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan to the squad is a huge boost for Pakistan. Rizwan and Babar, with their wealth of experience will be really crucial for their side. Both players had been dropped for the T20 series, but their return to ODIs will be a big boost. This is also a perfect opportunity for Pakistan to rectify their past mistakes and march forward with victory. 

Head to head

Matches - 119

PAK won - 61

NZ won - 54

New Zealand probable XI: Will Young, Henry Nicholls, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Hay (wk), Michael Bracewell (c), Nathan Smith, William O’Rourke, Adithya Ashok, Jacob Duffy, Ben Sears

Pakistan probable XI: Imam-ul-Haq (wk), Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Tayyab Tahir, Agha Salman (c), Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Abrar Ahmed, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem