BLACK CAPS COVERING THEIR BASES FOR CHAMPIONS TROPHY

The Black Caps head to Pakistan confident they've got all their bases covered for the Champions Trophy.

New Zealand won an early version of the tournament in 2000 and have made the knockout stage twice since, including losing to Australia in the 2009 final.

However, things didn't go so well in the last tournament in 2017 when New Zealand finished bottom of their group with two losses and a no result.

New Zealand has been regular visitors to Pakistan in recent years, winning and losing ODI series' there in 2023. In 2024 a T20 series was drawn.

"Over the past few years we've been there and had some success but it's different in a major event," captain Mitchell Santner said ahead of their departure.

"Great to see it back in Pakistan. Massive crowds and obviously it'll be a bit one-sided for the first game against Pakistan, but we're use to that."

New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa will play a tri-series ahead of the tournament.

With regular recent experience in the sub-continent, including Pakistan, the Black Caps are fully prepared for the conditions.

But Santner said it is always good to get more games.

"You want to get yourself use to conditions and we have four games to get use to it.

"Playing Pakistan will be weird because we play them in the first game (of the Champions Trophy).

New Zealand beat Sri Lanka in an ODI and T20 series last month, while Pakistan impressed in a 3-0 ODI series win in South Africa in December.

"They've got a very good team, we know how good their quicks are but a few of their young batters are stepping up also so they've got all bases covered..... as do we," Santner said.

"Every time you play a major event it's awesome, it's nerve-wracking but the guys are excited."

Because of security concerns India will play their games in the UAE.

Black Caps squad:

Mitchell Santner (capt), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O'Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, Kane Williamson, Will Young. Jacob Duffy (fast bowling cover for Ferguson).

ODI Tri-Series fixtures

Saturday 8 February - Pakistan v BLACKCAPS - Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

Monday 10 February - BLACKCAPS v South Africa - Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

Friday 14 February - Tri-Series Final - National Stadium, Karachi

ICC Warm-up Fixture

Sunday 16 February - BLACKCAPS v Afghanistan - National Stadium, Karachi

ICC Champions Trophy fixtures

Wednesday 19 February, 10:00pm NZT - BLACKCAPS v Pakistan - National Stadium Karachi

Monday 24 February, 10:00pm NZT - Bangladesh v BLACKCAPS - Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium

Sunday 2 March, 10:00pm NZT - BLACKCAPS v India - Dubai International Stadium

Tuesday 4 March, 10:00pm NZT - 1st Semi-Final - Dubai International Stadium

Wednesday 5 March, 10:00pm NZT - 2nd Semi-Final - Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

Sunday 9 March, 10:00pm NZT - Final - TBC

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2025-02-03T20:31:30Z