New Zealand vs Pakistan 1st T20 Predictions & Tips - Mitchell to score big in Black Caps win

Ralph Staniforth

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Last updated: 14 Mar 2025

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Ralph Staniforth 14 Mar 2025

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New Zealand and Pakistan are prepping for the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Daryl Mitchell and Salman Agha are key players to watch.
Both teams fielding young players and changing leadership.

Expired

Daryl Mitchell to score big for Black Caps (Getty Images)

New Zealand vs Pakistan Predictions

New Zealand and Pakistan enter a building phase with one eye on the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup. Both sides have a few youngsters in this series, so it could be a tough one to call.

New Zealand vs Pakistan Predictions
Head to Head
New Zealand Form
New Zealand Team News
Pakistan Form
Pakistan Team News

However, in home conditions, I am backing Daryl Mitchell in the run scoring markets.

New Zealand have won 3 of their last 4 T20I matches.
New Zealand reached the final of the ICC Champions Trophy.
New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell has scored 49 & 63 runs in his last 2 ODI matches.
Pakistan have lost 3 of their last 4 T20I matches.
Pakistan were knocked out in the ICC Champions Trophy group stage.
Pakistan’s Salman Aghar has scored 40+ runs in 4 of his last 5 ODI innings.

Head to Head

The last four T20I games between these two sides have been shared two each. They last met in 2024, a five-match series that ended 2-2 with one abandoned fixture.

New Zealand Form

New Zealand reached the final of the recently completed ICC Champions Trophy where they lost to India. However, despite that defeat, their white-ball form has been strong of late.

The squad is, however, very different with key players rested. Overall, New Zealand’s last five T20 matches have seen them win three and lose two.

In home conditions, the Black Caps will be confident, but much will depend on how the younger players step up to the challenge.

New Zealand Team News

Michael Bracewell captains the New Zealand side that is filled with experience and also some new faces.

Pakistan Form

Pakistan had a poor ICC Champions Trophy on home soil where they failed to progress from the group stages. Their form in all cricket has been pretty average of late.

In T20I cricket, Pakistan have only won one of their last four fixtures. With a new captaincy and some fresh players, they will hope to change their fortunes in foreign conditions.

Pakistan Team News

Salman Agha will captain the Pakistan side with Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan both dropped

Verdict

New Zealand v Pakistan

Daryl Mitchell and Salman Agha are backed to top score for their respective teams considering their form in the recent Champions Trophy.

Daryl Mitchell

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Salman Agha

Best Pakistan Batsman

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