Pakistan vs New Zealand Prediction & Betting Tips - ICC Mens ODI Series

Prediction published on 08/01/2023, 21:00  by Devesh Jaganath | Modified on 09/01/2023 at 04:55 in Cricket Predictions

Pakistan and New Zealand will go head to head in a 3-match ODI series at the National Stadium, Karachi, with the hopes of starting the 2023 ODI season on a positive. Pakistan is coming off a season of 8 Test matches without a single win and with a new selection committee and Babar's captaincy under pressure. Pakistan has been on an 8-match unbeaten streak in the 2022 ODI matches, winning 8 out of 9 matches and losing only one (against Australia). Imam ul Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, and Shan Masood will form the top-4 for Pakistan, while Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, and Usama Mir will form the middle/lower order. Young pace gun Naseem Shah has also impressed, taking 10 wickets in only 3 matches, and Usama Mir has earned his maiden ODI call-up to complete the bowling department alongside Shahnawaz Dahani.

New Zealand, on the other hand, is the top-ranked ODI team in the World, making the betting odds for both teams quite competitive. For New Zealand, Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips, and Michael Bracewell will be the likely top-7, with Henry Shipley, Tim Southee, and Lockie Ferguson forming the bowling lineup. Trent Boult, who had the most wickets for the Kiwis in 2022, declined his national contract and is not with the team in Pakistan. New Zealand may benefit from a return to white-ball cricket after a less-than-satisfactory season in 2022. Despite starting strong with a win against Australia in the T20 World Cup, their overall performance was not as successful as they had hoped. They will be keen to show better results in 50-over cricket.