Pakistan vs New Zealand – Betting Tips, Odds & Match Prediction (2024)

• Babar Azam

The Pakistani captain is also their most reliable batter. Babar Azam is used to the pressure that captaincy brings, and he’ll be the key wicket for New Zealand to target. Babar can play at different tempos, keeping things steady if early wickets have fallen while picking up the pace in the later stages. He has an incredible 11 centuries in T20s, which will do a world of good to the Pakistani dressing room.

• Mohammad Rizwan

He likes to play the game with a smile on his face, but that happy exterior masks a determined cricketer. As the wicketkeeper and opening bat, it could be argued that Mohammad Rizwan is the most important player in the Pakistani side. He is so consistent at the top of the order and is likely to get his team off to a fast start.

• Mohammad Amir

Having reversed his decision to retire from international cricket, Mohammad Amir is set to play his first T20I since August 2020. He’ll likely form a left-arm pace and swing opening attack with Shaheen Shah Afridi, and he’ll need to settle back in quickly. Amir has 59 wickets in this format, and his economy rate of 7.02 is outstanding.

• Michael Bracewell

New Zealand’s stand-in T20I skipper was once considered a spinner who could make useful runs, but he’s since developed into a genuine all-rounder. Bracewell is capable of bowling tight spells while making quick runs in the death overs.

• Mark Chapman

It’s surprising that Mark Chapman isn’t considered by more franchise teams around the world. With other big names missing, he’s New Zealand’s most explosive batter on this tour and will be a key wicket for Pakistan to target. Chapman has two centuries in the T20 format, including an unbeaten 104 vs. Pakistan at this same ground in 2023.

• Tim Robinson

He made it to the Kiwi setup on the back of a successful season with the willow, amassing 298 runs in the Super Smash and finishing as the second-highest runscorer in the tournament. His scores also included a staggering 139 off just 64 balls vs. Otago. Add to that the fact that he's a livewire on the field, and New Zealand has got an absolute winner in the 21-year-old.