Champions Trophy looms large over Pakistan New Zealand clash

Rival captains Mohammad Rizwan and Mitchell Santner said pm Friday that Pakistan and New Zealand’s weekend clash in a tri-nation series will be a dress rehearsal for their Champions Trophy showdown.

Pakistan, New Zealand and South Africa will play a warm-up series ending on Feb.14 before the eight-team Champions Trophy starts five days later.

“We have the best choice of players so it is an important series and the best preparation for the bigger event, the Champions Trophy,” Pakistan skipper Rizwan told reporters ahead of Saturday’s match in Lahore.

Defending champions Pakistan have suffered a poor record in all formats of cricket in recent years, but their performance has piqued somewhat recently.

Mohammad Rizwan pose for photo with the trophy of tri-nation series in Lahore. AP

They hope to carry forward a winning momentum since Rizwan took the reins in November and they won their first series in Australia in more than two decades by a 2-1 margin. They have also beat Zimbabwe and inflicted the first ever home whitewash on South Africa in December.

Santner, who took over New Zealand’s white-ball captaincy last year, said the Champions Trophy would be “at the back of the mind” of his players on Saturday.

Pakistan and New Zealand will also play the opening match of the Champions Trophy in Karachi, kicking off a tournament due to end on 9 March.

“I think it’s good prep for us as we are playing a game against Pakistan in similar conditions to probably what we’re going to face in Karachi,” said Santner.

Kane Williamson, second right, and teammates attend a training session in Lahore. AP

The visiting skipper said his team “have got good fast bowling stock raring to go” including veteran pacers Tim Southee and Trent Boult as well as newcomers.

Boult and Southee share 432 ODI wickets between them and last played ODIs for New Zealand in the 2023 World Cup held in India.

The current team has Ben Sears, Will O’Rourke, Matt Henry and Nathan Smith with extra frontline pacer Lockie Ferguson recovering from injury and unlikely to play on Saturday.

Mitchell Santner carries trophy on the eve of their one day international tri-nation series match against Pakistan at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. AFP

New Zealand will take on South Africa in the second match, also in Lahore, on Monday before the hosts play South Africa in Karachi on February 12 with a finale staged two days later.