The Pakistan and New Zealand cricketing rivalry has decades old cricketing history, whose moments have remained in the minds of international cricketing. Since the exciting Test series to high stakes ODIs with fast T20Is, every match has been a demonstration of the dexterity, planning and zeal of the two teams.
Following this path, one can have a clear perspective on the development of the rivalry through time, its historic victories, record-breaking games, and rising stars. This article presents a comprehensive New Zealand national cricket team vs Pakistan national cricket team timeline, capturing the key matches, notable moments, and the shifting dynamics that have shaped one of cricket’s enduring rivalries.
Head-to-Head Statistics
Here’s a concise table summarizing the head-to-head statistics between the New Zealand national cricket team and the Pakistan national cricket team across all formats:
Format | Matches Played | New Zealand Wins | Pakistan Wins | Draws/No Result |
Tests | 62 | 14 | 25 | 23 |
ODIs | 122 | 57 | 61 | 3 (No Result) |
T20Is | 27 | 16 | 11 | 0 |
Timeline of Key Matches and Series
Test Matches
1955-56 (Pakistan): It was the first series between the two programs whereby Pakistan won the two-match games in the first Test series.
1964-65 (New Zealand): The series was played to a draw of 0-0 where both the teams were exhibiting the competitive level of cricket.
1990-91 (Pakistan): Pakistan swept the series 3-0 and this was a major success in their cricketing history.
2016-17 (New Zealand): New Zealand scored a 200 whitewash in their own country, the first time since 1985 that they had won a series over Pakistan.
One-Day Internationals (ODIs)
1973 (New Zealand): It was the first ODI, and New Zealand was defeated by 22 runs, the initial sign of the future competitions.
1992 (Pakistan): At the Cricket World Cup, Pakistan won in a memorable semi-final against New Zealand by 4 wickets, with the innings of Inzamam-ul-Haq taking the centre stage.
2009 (South Africa): Pakistan overcame New Zealand by 5 wickets in the semi final of the champions trophy, and one of the highlights during this period was the all round performance of Shahid Afridi.
2015 (Australia/New Zealand): Australia vs New Zealand In a high-pressure World Cup quarter-final, New Zealand was the narrow victor, 4 wickets, with the match-winning six of Grant Elliott in the last over.
2025 (Pakistan): New Zealand beat Pakistan by 60 runs in the opening match of the Champions Trophy and the century by Will Young and Tom Latham spearheaded the attack.
Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is)
2007 (South Africa): Pakistan won their first encounter in the ICC World Twenty20 and this was to be followed in T20I encounters.
2010-2018 (Different venues): This was a time when there were no less than 2010 T20I matches, and both teams demonstrated their ability to achieve results in the shortest format possible.
2022 (Australia): Pakistan won a close series final over New Zealand, and its partnership between Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan played a key role.
2024 (New Zealand): New Zealand returned with a bang in the T20I series, and the key element was the batting fervor of Finn Allen.
Notable Performances and Players
The New Zealand vs Pakistan cricket encounters have featured numerous standout performances that have significantly impacted the rivalry.
New Zealand’s Key Performers:
Will Young: Young was imperious in his opening match of the 2025 champions trophy as he made 107 runs to anchor the New Zealand innings and provide Pakistan with a challenging target to chase.
Tom Latham: Latham too, in the 2025 champions Trophy, made an unscored 118, another vital partnership with Young that made New Zealand more secure.
Rachlin Ravindra: Ravindra made a match winning century in the absence of Daryl Mitchell and this indicates his versatility and ability to withstand pressure.
Michael Bracewell: Bracewell is a versatile player whose performance has been key to the achievements of New Zealand making him feature at the top five in the all-rounder ranking of ICC ODI.
Pakistan’s Key Performers:
Babar Azam: Being a regular run-scorer, Babar has amassed more than 1,000 against New Zealand in the ODIs at an average of 48.04.
Fakhar Zaman: Zaman has earned acclaim as a forceful batting power known for hitting a 126-run mark in the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup, one of the fastest centuries in the history of the tournament.
Khushdil Shah: Shah has played some of the most influential roles in the history of Pakistan like the 69-run in the 2025 Champions Trophy that has contributed significantly to the stability of the Pakistani middle-order.
Shaheen Shah Afridi: As a top pacer,Afridi has been able to take early wickets and this has on many occasions piled the Pakistani side with pressure on the top order of New Zealand, and has been able to swing the matches in favor of Pakistan.
Such players have influenced not only single matches, but have also added to the rich history of New Zealand vs Pakistan cricket rivalry.
Recent Encounters (2023–2025)
The recent cricket encounters between New Zealand and Pakistan from 2023 to 2025 have showcased dynamic shifts in dominance and evolving team strategies.
Recent Series and Matches
2023 ODI Series in Pakistan: Pakistan won the series 41 and this is their first ODI series victory over New Zealand since 2011. The 363 runs by Fakhar Zaman and the 9 wickets of Haris Rauf were the best performances.
2023 T20I Series in Pakistan: This was a draw result (22). Mark Chapman was the New Zealand player with the best run-scorer, whereas the Pakistani player with the most wickets was Haris Rauf.
2024 T20I Series in New Zealand: New Zealand took the upper hand as they won 4 out of 5 games. Their success was due to Tim Seifert who had 249 runs and Jacob Duffy who had 13 wickets.
2025 ODI Series in New Zealand: New Zealand won the match 3-0 in the 3-match series and Daryl Mitchell scored 137 runs, and Ben Sears had 10 wickets.
Champions Trophy Opener: New Zealand beats Pakistan by 60 runs. The centuries by Will Young and Tom Latham made New Zealand reach up to 320/5, and the bowling of Mitchell Santner made Pakistan reach 260 all out.
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Emerging Trends
The Ascendancy of New Zealand: The Black Caps have demonstrated a steady performance in the last couple of consecutive series, especially the ODIs and T20Is, including the effectiveness of the performance of individual players and a united team.
The Problems of Pakistan: No matter how brilliant individuals are, Pakistan has suffered in terms of closing matches particularly when under high pressure.
Key Playgrounds: In the case of New Zealand, such players as Daryl Mitchell and Tim Seifert have played a central role, and Babar Azam and Haris Rauf remain the main points of their strategies in Pakistan.
Final Word
The New Zealand and Pakistan rivalry has become one of the most interesting matches in the history of cricket that have brought about memorable matches and outstanding individual performances in all forms of the game. The New Zealand national cricket team vs Pakistan national cricket team timeline reflects shifting dominance, thrilling victories, and emerging talents. With both teams still growing, the fans may expect cut-throat matches, new scoring records, and thrilling matches to add more exciting details to this historic cricketing rivalry in the coming years.
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