The rivalry between the New Zealand National Cricket Team and the Pakistan National Cricket Team has produced many exciting moments in international cricket. Both teams are known for their unique playing styles. Pakistan often brings aggressive fast bowling and unpredictable performances, while New Zealand is famous for its disciplined strategy and strong teamwork. Over the decades, the two sides have faced each other in Test matches, One Day Internationals, and T20 Internationals. Their meetings in ICC tournaments have also created high pressure situations and memorable victories. The timeline of this rivalry reflects decades of competitive cricket, legendary players, and thrilling matches that have entertained fans around the world.
Recent Matches: New Zealand vs Pakistan Cricket Team
Tournament
Venue
Date
NZ Score
PAK Score
Result
Series/Context
Bilateral T20I
Mount Maunganui
Mar 26, 2025
131/2 (15.3/20 ov)
128/9 (20 ov)
New Zealand won by 8 wickets
5th T20I (NZ won series 4-1)
Bilateral ODI
Mount Maunganui
Apr 5, 2025
264/8 (42/42 ov)
221 (40/42 ov, target 265)
New Zealand won by 43 runs
3rd ODI (NZ swept 3-0)
Bilateral ODI
Hamilton
Apr 2, 2025
292/8 (50 ov)
208 (41.2/50 ov, target 293)
New Zealand won by 84 runs
2nd ODI
Bilateral ODI
Napier
Mar 29, 2025
344/9 (50 ov)
271 (44.1/50 ov, target 345)
New Zealand won by 73 runs
1st ODI
Bilateral T20I
Christchurch
Mar 2025 (early)
92/1 (10.1/20 ov)
91 (all out)
New Zealand won by 9 wickets
Early T20I in series
Bilateral T20I
Dunedin
Mar 2025
137/5 (13.1/15 ov, rain-adjusted)
135/9 (15 ov)
New Zealand won by 5 wickets
Rain-affected T20I
Bilateral T20I
(NZ venue)
Mar 2025
–
–
New Zealand won (series trend)
Part of T20I series
Earlier T20I
Various (prior)
2024/earlier
Varies
Varies
Mixed (PAK won some, NZ others)
Pre-2025 clashes
T20 World Cup Super 8
Colombo (R.Premadasa)
Feb 21, 2026
0/0 (abandoned)
0/0 (abandoned)
No result (rain washout)
ICC T20WC 2026
Head-to-Head Record
Format
Matches Played
New Zealand Won
Pakistan Won
Ties
No Result / Drawn
First Match Year
Test
62
14
25
0
23 (Drawn)
1955
ODI
122
57
61
1
3
1973
T20I
49–50
23
24–25
0
2 (No Result)
2007
Overall (Intl.)
233–234
94
110
1
28+
1955
Memorable Matches Timeline
Date / Year
Format & Tournament
Venue
Key Result / Margin
Memorable Highlights & Why Iconic
Oct 13-17, 1955
1st Test
Karachi, Pakistan
Pakistan won by innings & 1 run
Inaugural Test between the sides; Pakistan’s first home series win over NZ, setting the tone for subcontinent dominance with strong batting.
Feb 11, 1973
1st ODI
Christchurch, NZ
(Pakistan’s early ODI win)
First ODI clash; marked the start of white-ball rivalry with competitive early encounters.
1990 World Cup Semi-Final
ODI (World Cup)
Various (NZ home)
Pakistan won convincingly
Wasim Akram’s magic spell dismantled NZ; pivotal in Pakistan’s path to their 1992 WC triumph.
1992 World Cup Semi-Final
ODI (World Cup)
Auckland, NZ
Pakistan won (key upset)
One of Pakistan’s greatest ODI wins; Inzamam-ul-Haq’s explosive knock turned the game, leading to their WC title.
2009-2010 T20 World Cup
T20I (Group/Super)
Various
Mixed (NZ won by 1 run in 2010)
Nail-biting 1-run thriller in 2010; showcased T20 intensity with dramatic last-over finishes.
2018 T20I Series
T20I Bilateral
UAE (neutral)
Pakistan dominant
High-scoring games with fireworks; highlighted emerging T20 talents on both sides.
Nov 9, 2022
T20 World Cup Semi-Final
Sydney, Australia
Pakistan won by 7 wickets
Epic chase under pressure; Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan’s partnership sealed Pakistan’s final spot with clinical batting.
Oct 26, 2021
T20 World Cup
Sharjah, UAE
Pakistan won by 5 wickets
Tense low-scoring battle; Pakistan’s bowlers restricted NZ before a gritty chase.
Mar 21, 2016
T20 World Cup
Mohali, India
New Zealand won by 22 runs
NZ’s strong batting display; key Super 10 win showcasing their T20 prowess.
2025 Bilateral Series
T20I & ODI (NZ home)
Various NZ venues
NZ swept T20I 4-1 & ODI 3-0
Recent dominance by Black Caps with clinical chases and bowling masterclasses; shifted momentum in the rivalry.
Top Performers in NZ vs PAK Matches
Rank
Player
Team
Format Focus
Key Stats (vs Opponent)
Memorable Contributions & Why Top Performer
1
Babar Azam
PAK
T20I/ODI
~880+ runs in T20Is alone; high average overall
Modern master; explosive centuries and consistent chases; leads Pakistan’s batting in recent T20 thrillers.
2
Shaheen Shah Afridi
PAK
T20I/All
25+ wickets in T20Is; pace dominance
Devastating new-ball bowler; swing and yorkers trouble NZ top order; key in World Cup wins.
3
Kane Williamson (or historical like SP Fleming)
NZ
All formats
Strong batting record across eras; high averages
Captaincy and technique; anchors innings in tough conditions against PAK pace.
4
Wasim Akram
PAK
ODI/Test
38+ wickets in ODIs; legendary spells
Swing king; dismantled NZ lineups in 1990s World Cups and series; iconic reverse swing.
5
Daryl Mitchell / Mark Chapman
NZ
Recent ODI/T20I
100+ runs in 2025 series; Chapman standout
Power-hitting in chases; Chapman loves facing PAK (multiple big knocks in 2025 home series).
First Encounters and Early Test Series (1955–1975)
The first official Test series between the New Zealand National Cricket Team and the Pakistan National Cricket Team took place in the mid twentieth century. Pakistan toured New Zealand in 1955, marking the beginning of their cricketing rivalry. During these early years, both teams were still developing their international cricket strength. Matches were often slow paced but highly competitive as players adjusted to different playing conditions. Pakistan relied on talented batsmen and emerging fast bowlers, while New Zealand focused on disciplined bowling and steady batting. These early encounters helped both teams gain valuable experience and laid the foundation for a rivalry that would continue to grow in international cricket.
Year
Series / Event
Format
Venue
Result
1955
Pakistan tour of NZ
Test
New Zealand
First series played
1965
NZ tour of Pakistan
Test
Pakistan
Competitive matches
1969
Bilateral series
Test
New Zealand
Close contests
1975
World Cup meeting
ODI
England
Early ODI clash
Growing Competition in Limited Overs Cricket (1976–1999)
During the late twentieth century, the rivalry between the New Zealand National Cricket Team and the Pakistan National Cricket Team expanded as limited overs cricket became popular worldwide. One Day Internationals allowed the teams to face each other more frequently in ICC tournaments and bilateral series. Pakistan developed a reputation for producing world class fast bowlers, while New Zealand relied on disciplined team play and strong fielding. A major moment in this rivalry came during the 1992 Cricket World Cup, where both teams competed strongly in the tournament hosted in Australia and New Zealand. These contests helped build a competitive relationship that attracted increasing attention from cricket fans.
Year
Event
Format
Venue
Highlight
1985
Bilateral series
ODI
Pakistan
Close matches
1987
ICC Cricket World Cup
ODI
India / Pakistan
Tournament clash
1992
Cricket World Cup
ODI
Australia / NZ
Historic tournament
1999
ICC Cricket World Cup
ODI
England
Competitive match
Competitive Era with Legendary Players (2000–2010)
The rivalry between the New Zealand National Cricket Team and the Pakistan National Cricket Team became even more exciting during the early 2000s. Both teams featured talented players capable of turning matches around with remarkable performances. Pakistan had star cricketers such as Inzamam-ul-Haq, who was known for his powerful batting and calm presence at the crease. Meanwhile, New Zealand produced consistent players like Daniel Vettori, who contributed with both bat and ball. Their matches during this period were often competitive, with each team winning important series. These contests helped strengthen the rivalry and produced several memorable matches that cricket fans still remember today.
Year
Event
Format
Venue
Highlight
2001
Test series
Test
New Zealand
Competitive games
2003
ICC Cricket World Cup
ODI
South Africa
Major clash
2005
Bilateral ODI series
ODI
Pakistan
Close contests
2009
Test matches
Test
New Zealand
Strong performances
Modern Era Battles and ICC Tournament Matches (2011–2020)
In the 2010s, the rivalry between the New Zealand National Cricket Team and the Pakistan National Cricket Team continued to grow stronger. Both teams became highly competitive in all formats of the game. New Zealand captain Kane Williamson led his team with calm leadership and impressive batting performances. Pakistan also produced talented players who could influence the outcome of matches with their aggressive style. Encounters between the two sides in ICC tournaments and bilateral series were often closely contested. These matches showcased the skills of both teams and kept cricket fans engaged with thrilling moments and dramatic finishes.
Year
Event
Format
Venue
Highlight
2014
Bilateral series
ODI
UAE
Competitive matches
2016
ICC World T20
T20
India
Tournament clash
2018
Test series
Test
UAE
Close contests
2019
ICC Cricket World Cup
ODI
England
High pressure match
Recent Timeline and Current Rivalry (2021–2025)
In recent years, matches between the New Zealand National Cricket Team and the Pakistan National Cricket Team have remained exciting and competitive. Both teams feature experienced players along with talented young cricketers. Their meetings in bilateral series and ICC tournaments continue to attract strong interest from fans around the world. The rivalry is known for balanced competition, where either side can win depending on conditions and performances on the day. As cricket continues to evolve with new formats and tournaments, New Zealand and Pakistan are expected to produce many more memorable matches in the future.
Year
Event
Format
Venue
Highlight
2021
Bilateral series
T20 / ODI
UAE
Close contests
2022
Test matches
Test
Pakistan
Competitive games
2023
ICC tournaments
ODI
Global venues
Major clashes
2024
Bilateral series
T20 / ODI
New Zealand
Exciting matches
2025
Recent encounters
All formats
Multiple venues
Ongoing rivalry
Conclusion
The rivalry between the New Zealand National Cricket Team and the Pakistan National Cricket Team has developed into an exciting contest over many decades. From early Test series to modern ICC tournament clashes, both teams have produced memorable performances and thrilling matches. Their contests often showcase disciplined bowling, strategic batting, and unpredictable moments that make cricket exciting. As both teams continue to develop new talent and compete on the international stage, this rivalry will likely continue to grow and provide cricket fans with many more memorable moments in the years ahead.
