New Zealand vs Pakistan Cricket Timeline: Complete History from 1955 to 2026
New Zealand and Pakistan first met in Test cricket in October 1955 at the National Stadium, Karachi. Pakistan won by an innings and 1 run. Seven decades later, the two sides contested a Champions Trophy Final in Dubai – settled off the final ball of the 45th over. The New Zealand national cricket team vs Pakistan national cricket team timeline spans 70 years of Test cricket, bilateral ODI and T20I series, and some of the most memorable moments in international cricket history. This article covers every major result across all three formats, verified head-to-head records, key players, ICC tournament meetings, and the last five completed matches – structured for readers who want the full picture of NZ vs PAK history.
Key Takeaways
- Pakistan dominated bilateral cricket from 1955 to 1990, winning six of the first seven Test series between the two nations
- Across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is since 2016, New Zealand have won five of the six major bilateral series included in this timeline
- In ICC tournaments, Pakistan hold a 5–2 advantage in T20 World Cup meetings against New Zealand, while New Zealand won both encounters at the 2025 Champions Trophy
- The closest Test in this rivalry – New Zealand’s 4-run win in Abu Dhabi in 2018 – is the fifth-smallest Test victory by runs in cricket history
Quick Navigation
- NZ vs Pakistan in 30 Seconds
- Head-to-Head Records
- Master Timeline Table
- Test History
- ODI History
- T20I History
- ICC Meetings
- Last 5 Matches
- Key Players
- Records and Milestones
- FAQs
- Sources and Methodology
NZ vs Pakistan in 30 Seconds
The quickest summary of the Pakistan vs New Zealand cricket head-to-head: Pakistan dominated the early decades, New Zealand have won the majority of recent bilateral contests, and ICC tournament results remain closely split across formats.
| First match | Karachi, October 1955 – Pakistan won by an innings and 1 run |
| Tests head-to-head | Pakistan 25 – New Zealand 13 (23 draws, 61 Tests) |
| ODIs head-to-head | Pakistan 61 – New Zealand 57 (122 matches, 3 NR, 1 tie) |
| T20Is head-to-head | Pakistan 20 – New Zealand 14 (35 matches, 1 NR) |
| Closest Test ever | NZ won by 4 runs, Abu Dhabi, November 2018 |
| Current trend | NZ won 4 of last 5 completed matches |
| Last ICC meeting | T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 – Abandoned, Colombo |
Head-to-Head Records
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New Zealand and Pakistan have played 218 international matches across all formats – 61 Tests, 122 ODIs, and 35 T20Is. Pakistan holds the aggregate lead in all three formats, but that lead is built primarily on results from the 1955–2010 period. Since 2016, the bilateral results have consistently favoured New Zealand.
| Format | Matches | NZ Wins | PAK Wins | Draws / NR / Tie |
| Tests | 61 | 13 | 25 | 23 draws |
| ODIs | 122 | 57 | 61 | 3 NR, 1 tie |
| T20Is | 35 | 14 | 20 | 1 NR |
Home vs Away Split in ODIs
New Zealand hold the stronger bilateral ODI record in home conditions. Pakistan’s overall ODI lead of 61–57 is concentrated at neutral and ICC tournament venues. In New Zealand, the hosts have won the majority of bilateral ODI series since 2016.
Master Timeline: NZ vs PAK Cricket History
The new zealand national cricket team vs pakistan national cricket team timeline begins in 1955 and runs through the 2026 T20 World Cup. The table below documents every major series result, key individual matches, and their significance to the rivalry’s development.
| Year | Venue | Format | Result | Why It Mattered |
| 1955 | Karachi | Test Series | PAK 2–0 | First-ever series between the two nations |
| 1965 | Pakistan | Test Series | PAK 2–1 | Pakistan’s second consecutive home series win |
| 1969 | New Zealand | Test Series | PAK 1–0 | Pakistan’s first Test series win in New Zealand |
| 1976 | Pakistan | Test Series | PAK 2–0 | Pakistan win comfortably across both Tests |
| 1984 | New Zealand | Test Series | PAK 3–0 | Pakistan’s most dominant overseas series in this rivalry |
| 1990 | Pakistan | Test Series | PAK 3–0 | Last clean sweep by either side in Tests |
| 1994 | Christchurch | Test | NZ won | First major NZ home Test breakthrough |
| 2001 | Hamilton | Test | NZ won (Inn. +185) | NZ’s largest Test win margin against Pakistan |
| 2009 | Dunedin | Test | NZ won by 32 | NZ won despite Pakistan entering as favourites |
| 2014 | Sharjah | Test | NZ won (Inn. +80) | NZ posted 690/6 declared, then bowled PAK out for 448 and 161 |
| 2016 | New Zealand | Test Series | NZ 2–0 | First NZ home Test series win vs PAK since 1985 |
| 2018 | Abu Dhabi | 1st Test | NZ won by 4 runs | Fifth-smallest Test win by runs in history – Ajaz Patel on debut |
| 2018 | UAE | Test Series | NZ 2–1 | NZ win away in UAE-hosted series vs Pakistan |
| 2020–21 | New Zealand | Test Series | NZ 2–0 | NZ win by an innings at Christchurch |
| 2022–23 | Pakistan | Test Series | Drawn 0–0 | Both Karachi Tests drawn |
| 2024 | Pakistan | T20I Series | Drawn 2–2 | First drawn T20I bilateral result since 2021 |
| Feb 2025 | Dubai | CT Final | NZ won by 5 wkts | NZ chased 242 off the final ball |
| Mar 2025 | New Zealand | T20I Series | NZ 4–1 | Pakistan dismissed for 91 in 1st T20I at Christchurch |
| Apr 2025 | New Zealand | ODI Series | NZ 3–0 | NZ scored 344/9 in 1st ODI, Pakistan dismissed three times under 275 |
| Feb 2026 | Colombo | T20 WC Super 8 | Abandoned | Rain – both teams received 1 point |
Test History
The NZ vs PAK Test history is the longest and most statistically rich part of this rivalry. Across 61 Tests since 1955, Pakistan lead 25–13, with 23 draws. The balance of results shifted gradually from the 1990s onward, with New Zealand winning 3 of 4 bilateral Test series since 2016.
1955–1990: Pakistan’s Era of Test Dominance
Pakistan won six of the first seven bilateral Test series in this rivalry. Their home record across this period was near-complete – New Zealand managed just one Test win across multiple tours to Pakistan in these three decades. The 1984 series in New Zealand stands as Pakistan’s strongest overseas Test performance in this fixture. They won all three matches – Wellington, Auckland, and Christchurch – with New Zealand dismissed below 200 repeatedly. The 1990 series in Pakistan ended 3–0 to Pakistan – the last time either side produced a clean sweep in a Test series between the two nations.
1990–2014: The Balance Shifts
New Zealand’s 2001 Hamilton Test win by an innings and 185 runs remains the largest winning margin New Zealand have recorded against Pakistan in Tests. The 2009 Dunedin Test, won by 32 runs, showed New Zealand could hold close situations that previously had tended to go Pakistan’s way. The standout result of this era came at Sharjah in 2014. New Zealand declared at 690/6. Pakistan replied with 448 in their first innings. New Zealand then bowled Pakistan out for 161 to win by an innings and 80 runs. It remains one of the more unusual results in Test cricket – a team wins by an innings after the opposition scored 690.
2016–2026: New Zealand’s Bilateral Test Record
New Zealand have won 3 of 4 bilateral Test series since 2016. The two results that most clearly define this period are the 2018 Abu Dhabi Test win by 4 runs and the 2021 Christchurch win by an innings and 176 runs. New Zealand have not won a Test series in Pakistan. The most recent tour – 2022–23 – ended 0–0 across two Tests in Karachi, with both matches drawn on flat surfaces.
The Abu Dhabi Test, November 2018 – The Closest Match in This Rivalry
What is the closest Test match between New Zealand and Pakistan? New Zealand defeated Pakistan by just 4 runs in Abu Dhabi in November 2018 – the fifth-smallest Test win by runs in cricket history. Pakistan needed 176 to win and were in a strong position at 130/3. Ajaz Patel, bowling in his debut Test, took 5/59 in the fourth innings. He dismissed Azhar Ali LBW with Pakistan needing 5 runs and one wicket remaining. The DRS review was upheld. New Zealand won. Patel was named Player of the Match on debut.
ODI History
Pakistan lead the New Zealand vs Pakistan ODI head-to-head 61–57 across 122 matches, with 3 no-results and 1 tied match. Their aggregate lead is largely built at neutral and ICC tournament venues. In bilateral ODI series played in New Zealand, the hosts have been the stronger side across recent years.
2025 ODI Series: New Zealand Win 3–0
The 2025 ODI series in New Zealand produced three consecutive New Zealand victories, with Pakistan dismissed under 275 in all three matches.
- 1st ODI, Napier: Pakistan were 246/3 in the 38th over, then lost 7 wickets for 22 runs to be dismissed for 271. New Zealand won by 73 runs chasing 273, scoring 344/9.
- 2nd ODI, Hamilton: Pakistan fell to 32/5 inside 12 overs. Dismissed for 208. New Zealand won by 84 runs.
- 3rd ODI, Mount Maunganui: Pakistan dismissed for 221. New Zealand won by 43 runs.
Babar Azam scored 78 in the 1st ODI and was Pakistan’s leading run-scorer across the series. Three Pakistan lower-middle-order batters averaged under 15 in the series, per Cricbuzz series statistics. Pakistan’s 1st ODI collapse – from 246/3 to 271 all out – was the critical moment that defined the series outcome before the 2nd and 3rd matches were played.
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T20I History
Pakistan lead the all-time NZ vs PAK T20I head-to-head 20–14 across 35 matches, with 1 no-result. The aggregate lead reflects Pakistan’s stronger T20I results between 2007 and 2021. Since then, bilateral T20I results have favoured New Zealand in home conditions. Umar Gul’s 5/6 against New Zealand in the 2009 T20 World Cup Super 8s was the first five-wicket haul in T20I cricket history. It remains one of the most remarkable individual performances in this fixture across any format. Babar Azam has accumulated 880+ T20I runs against New Zealand – the highest run tally by any batter against a single T20I opponent in the format’s history.
2025 T20I Series: NZ 4–1
The Pakistan vs New Zealand T20I series in March 2025 ended 4–1 to the hosts. Pakistan were dismissed for 91 all out in the 1st T20I at Hagley Oval, Christchurch – their lowest T20I total in New Zealand. New Zealand chased in 10.1 overs.
| Match | Venue | Winner | Margin |
| 1st T20I | Hagley Oval, Christchurch | New Zealand | 9 wickets |
| 2nd T20I | Eden Park, Auckland | Pakistan | 9 wickets |
| 3rd T20I | McLean Park, Napier | New Zealand | 7 wickets |
| 4th T20I | Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui | New Zealand | 115 runs |
| 5th T20I | Basin Reserve, Wellington | New Zealand | 8 wickets |
2025 T20I Series Batting Averages
| Player | Team | Runs | Average | Strike Rate |
| Tim Seifert | NZ | 249 | 62.25 | 207.50 |
| Finn Allen | NZ | 144 | 36.00 | 211.76 |
| Agha Salman | PAK | 167 | 41.75 | 135.77 |
| Hasan Nawaz | PAK | 106 | 26.50 | 185.96 |
| Mohammad Haris | PAK | 65 | 13.00 | 118.18 |
| Abdul Samad | PAK | 66 | 16.50 | 113.79 |
Agha Salman, averaging 41.75, was the only Pakistan batter to average above 30 in the T20I series. Tim Seifert was named Player of the Series after scoring 249 runs at 207.50 strike rate across five matches. James Neesham’s five-wicket haul in the final T20I at Wellington – when Pakistan were already at 52/5 – sealed the series result comprehensively.
ICC Tournament Meetings
The NZ vs PAK ICC tournament record is split across formats. Pakistan has the strongest T20 World Cup history against New Zealand, winning 5 of 7 meetings. New Zealand hold the edge in ICC ODI events after their 2025 Champions Trophy campaign.
| Year | Tournament | Stage | Result |
| 1992 | ODI World Cup | Group Stage | PAK won |
| 1999 | ODI World Cup | Group Stage | PAK won |
| 2007 | T20 World Cup | Group Stage | NZ won |
| 2009 | T20 World Cup | Super 8s | PAK won – Umar Gul 5/6 (first 5-wkt haul in T20I history) |
| 2021 | T20 World Cup | Group Stage | PAK won by 5 wkts |
| 2022 | T20 World Cup | Super 12s | NZ won by 5 wkts |
| 2025 | Champions Trophy | Group Stage | NZ won by 60 runs |
| 2025 | Champions Trophy | Final | NZ won by 5 wkts (off the final ball, Dubai) |
| 2026 | T20 World Cup | Super 8s | Abandoned – rain, Colombo |
Champions Trophy 2025 Final
New Zealand chased Pakistan’s total of 242 and finished at 243/5 in 45.2 overs – off the final ball in Dubai. It was the highest-pressure match this rivalry has produced at an ICC tournament, and New Zealand’s first ICC title won against Pakistan at the final stage. The T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 match in Colombo on February 21, 2026 was abandoned due to rain – both teams received 1 point each.
Last 5 Matches
The last five meetings between New Zealand and Pakistan show New Zealand’s recent form across all formats and conditions.
| Date | Format | Venue | Winner | Margin |
| Feb 21, 2026 | T20I (T20 WC Super 8) | Colombo | Abandoned | Rain – 1 point each |
| Apr 5, 2025 | 3rd ODI | Mount Maunganui | New Zealand | 43 runs |
| Apr 2, 2025 | 2nd ODI | Hamilton | New Zealand | 84 runs |
| Mar 29, 2025 | 1st ODI | Napier | New Zealand | 73 runs |
| Mar 25, 2025 | 5th T20I | Wellington | New Zealand | 8 wickets |
New Zealand have won all four completed bilateral matches in 2025 across both T20I and ODI formats.
Key Players Who Defined NZ vs PAK
The new zealand national cricket team vs pakistan national cricket team timeline has been shaped by a small group of players whose performances in specific series or matches changed the direction of the rivalry. Below is the verified player impact record.
| Player | Team | Era | Impact | Key Stat |
| Wasim Akram | Pakistan | 1984–2002 | Lead wicket-taker in Pakistan’s dominant era | 30+ Test wickets vs NZ, central to 1984 and 1990 series sweeps |
| Inzamam-ul-Haq | Pakistan | 1992–2007 | Set the standard for PAK batting vs NZ in all conditions | Averaged 45+ in Tests vs NZ |
| Younis Khan | Pakistan | 2000–2016 | Consistent top-order anchor in away conditions | Averaged over 40 in Tests vs NZ across multiple series |
| Kane Williamson | New Zealand | 2012–2022 | Captained NZ through 5 consecutive bilateral series wins | ODI average vs PAK: 55.2 (second-highest for NZ, min. 10 innings) |
| Tim Southee | New Zealand | 2008–present | NZ’s leading wicket-taker vs PAK across formats | Consistently highest or joint-highest wicket-taker in NZ bilateral series vs PAK |
| Babar Azam | Pakistan | 2016–present | Pakistan’s most productive modern batter vs NZ | 880+ T20I runs vs NZ – highest by any player against a single T20I opponent |
| Ajaz Patel | New Zealand | 2018–present | Match-winner in the rivalry’s closest Test | 5/59 on Test debut, Abu Dhabi 2018 – final wicket with PAK needing 5 runs |
Ajaz Patel – The Debutant Who Won the Closest Test
Ajaz Patel’s performance in Abu Dhabi in November 2018 is the single most important individual contribution in the history of this rivalry. On debut, he took 5/59 in Pakistan’s fourth innings – picking up four of the last five wickets as Pakistan collapsed from 130/3 chasing 176. His dismissal of Azhar Ali LBW, successfully reviewed and upheld, ended the match with New Zealand winning by 4 runs. No other performance in a single Test has shaped the modern era of NZ vs PAK cricket as directly as that one.
Rivalry by Era
| Era | Period | Result Summary |
| Pakistan’s era | 1955–1990 | Pakistan won 6 of 7 bilateral Test series |
| Balanced period | 1990–2014 | Series results split, NZ breakthrough wins emerge |
| New Zealand’s bilateral run | 2014–2026 | NZ won 5 of 6 major bilateral series across all formats |
Records and Milestones
- Largest Test win – Pakistan: Innings and 324 runs, Lahore, 2002
- Largest Test win – New Zealand: Innings and 185 runs, Hamilton, 2001
- Narrowest Test in the rivalry: NZ won by 4 runs, Abu Dhabi, November 2018 – fifth-smallest Test win by runs in cricket history
- Highest innings in the rivalry: 690/6 declared – New Zealand, Sharjah, 2014
- Pakistan’s lowest T20I total in New Zealand: 91 all out, Hagley Oval, Christchurch, March 16, 2025
- Highest ODI total in bilateral history: New Zealand 344/9, Napier, March 29, 2025
- First 5-wicket haul in T20I history: Umar Gul – 5/6 vs NZ, T20 World Cup 2009
- Most T20I runs vs a single opponent (all-time): Babar Azam – 880+ vs NZ
- Best bowling on Test debut in this rivalry: Ajaz Patel – 5/59, Abu Dhabi, 2018
FAQs:
Q1. What is the New Zealand vs Pakistan head-to-head record in Tests?
A1: Pakistan lead 25–13 with 23 draws across 61 Tests since 1955. New Zealand have won 3 of 4 bilateral Test series since 2016. The overall aggregate reflects Pakistan’s dominance in the rivalry’s first four decades.
Q2. Who leads the Pakistan vs New Zealand ODI head-to-head?
A2. Pakistan lead 61–57 across 122 ODIs, with 3 no-results and 1 tied match. Pakistan’s edge is concentrated at neutral and ICC tournament venues. In New Zealand, the hosts have won recent bilateral ODI series.
Q3. What is the closest Test ever played between NZ and Pakistan?
A3. New Zealand defeated Pakistan by 4 runs in Abu Dhabi in November 2018 – the fifth-smallest Test win by runs in cricket history. Ajaz Patel took 5/59 on debut and dismissed the final batter with Pakistan needing 5 runs.
Q4. What happened in the NZ vs PAK T20 World Cup 2026 match?
A4. The Super 8 match in Colombo on February 21, 2026 was abandoned due to rain. Both teams received 1 point each. No play was possible.
Q5. Who holds the record for most T20I runs against a single opponent?
A5. Babar Azam – 880+ T20I runs against New Zealand, the highest such figure by any batter against a single T20I opponent in the history of the format.
Q6. Has New Zealand ever won a Test series in Pakistan?
A6. No. The most recent tour – 2022–23 – ended 0–0 across two Tests in Karachi. New Zealand have drawn in Pakistan but have never won a Test series on Pakistani soil.
Q7. Who won the 2025 Champions Trophy Final between NZ and Pakistan?
A7. New Zealand won by 5 wickets in Dubai, chasing Pakistan’s total of 242. The winning run came off the final ball of the 45th over – New Zealand finished on 243/5.
Q8. What is Pakistan’s lowest T20I total against New Zealand?
A8. 91 all out at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, on March 16, 2025 – their lowest T20I total in New Zealand. New Zealand chased in 10.1 overs by 9 wickets.
Q9. Who was the first bowler to take a five-wicket haul in T20I cricket?
A9. Pakistan’s Umar Gul – who took 5/6 against New Zealand in the 2009 T20 World Cup Super 8s. It was the first five-wicket haul in T20I history and remains one of the most remarkable individual performances in NZ vs PAK cricket.
Q10. When did New Zealand and Pakistan first play a Test match?
A10. October 1955 at the National Stadium, Karachi. Pakistan won by an innings and 1 run. That series – played across three Tests – ended 2–0 to Pakistan, with one draw. It was the beginning of the NZ vs PAK cricket timeline that now spans seven decades.
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