Table of Contents
The New Zealand National Cricket Team Vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Stats tell the story of one of international cricket’s most competitive and unpredictable rivalries. Over the decades, these two teams have produced unforgettable Test matches, thrilling One Day Internationals, and high pressure T20 Internationals filled with dramatic finishes and outstanding individual performances. Pakistan’s flair and natural talent have often collided with New Zealand’s disciplined, team first approach, creating contests that have captivated cricket fans around the world. From record breaking batting displays to match winning bowling spells and unforgettable scorecards, every meeting has added a new chapter to this fascinating rivalry, making it one of cricket’s most respected international contests.
Team Overview
The cricket rivalry between the New Zealand National Cricket Team (Blackcaps) and the Pakistan National Cricket Team is defined by a clash of distinct cricketing styles. Pakistan is historically renowned for its explosive bowling attacks and unpredictable flare, while New Zealand is celebrated for its tactical discipline, structured teamwork, and supreme fielding.
While Pakistan has historically dominated across long-standing formats, New Zealand has made massive strides over the last decade, particularly shifting the paradigm in limited-overs cricket.
Overall Head-to-Head Statistics
Pakistan holds the overall historical advantage across combined formats, though New Zealand dominates shorter formats at home.
| Format | Total Matches | Pakistan Wins | New Zealand Wins | Draws / No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test Matches | 62 | 25 | 14 | 23 |
| One Day Internationals (ODIs) | 115 | 60 | 51 | 4 |
| Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) | 50 | 24 | 23 | 3 |
| Total Combined | 227 | 109 | 88 | 30 |
Highest and Lowest Team Totals
- New Zealand posted 715 for 6 declared at Hamilton in 2014.
- Pakistan hit a peak of 643 at Lahore in 2002.
- New Zealand hit 401 for 6 in an ODI at Bengaluru in 2023.
- Pakistan scored 337 for 3 in an ODI at Rawalpindi in 2023.
- New Zealand was bowled out for just 70 in an ODI at Faisalabad in 1986.
Individual Batting Statistics
The historical lists are led by legendary figures from the 1990s and 2000s, but modern icons like Kane Williamson and Babar Azam have rapidly risen up the rankings.
Most Runs in Head-to-Head History
- Test Matches: Ross Taylor (New Zealand) leads with 1,003 runs, followed by legendary Pakistani batsman Saleem Malik.
- ODIs: Kane Williamson (New Zealand) leads with 1,291 runs, closely shadowed by Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pakistan) at 1,283 runs and Saeed Anwar at 1,260 runs.
- T20Is: Babar Azam (Pakistan) leads all players with 881 runs, closely tracked by Mark Chapman (New Zealand) at 772 runs.
Highest Individual Scores
- Test: Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pakistan) scored 329 at Lahore in 2002.
- ODI: Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan) scored 180 not out at Rawalpindi in 2023.
- T20I: Finn Allen (New Zealand) scored 137 at Dunedin in 2024.
Individual Bowling Statistics
Fast bowling has always been the primary battleground in this rivalry, featuring legendary swing masters and contemporary speedsters.
Most Wickets in Head-to-Head History
- Test Matches: Sir Richard Hadlee (New Zealand) remains the benchmark with 51 Test wickets. For Pakistan, leg-spinner Yasir Shah trails close behind with 47 wickets.
- ODIs: Waqar Younis (Pakistan) remains the overall leader against New Zealand with 58 wickets. Among active players, Matt Henry (New Zealand) has been lethal with 33 wickets in just 16 games.
- T20Is: Haris Rauf (Pakistan) and Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pakistan) sit at the top together with 33 wickets each.
Best Bowling Figures
- Test: Yasir Shah (Pakistan) took 8 wickets for 41 runs at Dubai in 2018.
- ODI: Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) took 5 wickets for 11 runs at Visakhapatnam in 2005.
- T20I: Umar Gul (Pakistan) took 5 wickets for 6 runs at The Oval in 2009.
Geographical Record Breakdown
Home Record (In New Zealand)
New Zealand exercises strong authority in their backyard due to handling fast, bouncing home tracks exceptionally well.
- Total Matches: 104
- New Zealand Wins: 55
- Pakistan Wins: 38
- Draws or No Results: 11
Away Record (In Pakistan)
Pakistan maximizes its dry, spin-friendly pitches to neutralise New Zealand’s pace battery.
- Total Matches: 68
- Pakistan Wins: 47
- New Zealand Wins: 14
- Draws or No Results: 7
Neutral Record
Neutral venue dynamics largely lean toward Pakistan, influenced greatly by decades of hosting home series in the United Arab Emirates.
- Total Matches: 55
- Pakistan Wins: 24
- New Zealand Wins: 19
- Draws or No Results: 12
Format-Wise Statistics
Test Match Stats
- Matches Played: 62
- Pakistan Wins: 25
- New Zealand Wins: 14
- Draws: 23
- Key Trend: While Pakistan dominated the timeline from 1955 to 2013, New Zealand has completely flipped the script, winning 7 of their last 8 multi-match Test series against Pakistan.
ODI Stats
- Matches Played: 122
- Pakistan Wins: 61
- New Zealand Wins: 57
- Ties or No Results: 4
- Key Trend: The gap is closing quickly; New Zealand swept their latest bilateral series 3-0.
T20I Stats
- Matches Played: 50
- Pakistan Wins: 24
- New Zealand Wins: 23
- No Results: 3
- Key Trend: This format represents their closest rivalry. Their highly anticipated Super 8s clash at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup was washed out without a single ball bowled.
ICC Tournament Head-to-Head
Pakistan has notoriously acted as New Zealand’s kryptonite in global multi-nation events, holding a clear psychological edge.
- ODI World Cups: Pakistan has defeated New Zealand 8 times in World Cup history compared to New Zealand’s 2 victories. This includes famous knockout semi-final victories in 1992 and 1999.
- T20 World Cups: Pakistan leads 5-2, underscored by a comprehensive 7-wicket victory over the Blackcaps in the semi-finals of the World Cup.
- ICC Champions Trophy: New Zealand reversed the curse in the latest tournament cycle, recording a statement 60-run group stage victory against Pakistan.
Venue-Wise Record (Selected Grounds)
| Ground | Total Matches | New Zealand Wins | Pakistan Wins | Draws or NRs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eden Park (Auckland) | 19 | 8 | 9 | 2 |
| National Stadium (Karachi) | 13 | 6 | 5 | 2 |
| Hagley Oval (Christchurch) | 11 | 6 | 4 | 1 |
| Dubai International Stadium (UAE) | 10 | 1 | 7 | 2 |
| Basin Reserve (Wellington) | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| University Oval (Dunedin) | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Combined International Batting Leaders
Kane Williamson leads the charts for the absolute most combined runs in the head-to-head history between New Zealand and Pakistan, while legendary Pakistani batsman Javed Miandad holds the record for the most centuries.
Most Runs
- Kane Williamson (New Zealand): 3,477 runs
- Babar Azam (Pakistan): 2,653 runs
- Javed Miandad (Pakistan): 2,621 runs
- Ross Taylor (New Zealand): 2,375 runs
- Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pakistan): 2,342 runs
Format-Wise Run Leaders
- Test Matches: Javed Miandad (Pakistan) leads with 1,919 runs
- ODIs: Kane Williamson (New Zealand) leads with 1,291 runs
- T20Is: Babar Azam (Pakistan) leads with 880 runs
Most Hundreds
- Kane Williamson (New Zealand): 8 hundreds (5 Test, 3 ODI)
- Javed Miandad (Pakistan): 7 hundreds (All scored in Test matches)
- Shoaib Mohammad (Pakistan): 5 hundreds (All scored in Test matches)
- Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan): 4 hundreds (All scored in ODIs)
- Saeed Anwar (Pakistan): 4 hundreds (All scored in ODIs)
Format-Wise Century Leaders
- Test Matches: Javed Miandad (Pakistan) leads with 7 hundreds
- ODIs: Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan) and Saeed Anwar (Pakistan) lead with 4 hundreds each
- T20Is: No player from either team has scored more than 1 century against the other. Finn Allen (New Zealand), Mark Chapman (New Zealand), and Babar Azam (Pakistan) each sit tied with exactly 1 century.
Most Fifties (Scores of 50 to 99)
- Babar Azam (Pakistan): 19 fifties (3 Test, 11 ODI, 5 T20I)
- Kane Williamson (New Zealand): 18 fifties (4 Test, 8 ODI, 6 T20I)
- Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pakistan): 15 fifties (4 Test, 11 ODI)
- Saeed Anwar (Pakistan): 14 fifties (1 Test, 13 ODI)
- Javed Miandad (Pakistan): 13 fifties (6 Test, 7 ODI)
Format-Wise Half-Century Leaders
- Test Matches: Javed Miandad (Pakistan) leads with 6 fifties
- ODIs: Babar Azam (Pakistan) and Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pakistan) lead with 11 fifties each
- T20Is: Babar Azam (Pakistan) leads with 8 fifties
Combined International Bowling Leaders
Waqar Younis leads the absolute all-time charts for the most career wickets taken in the head-to-head history between Pakistan and New Zealand, while spin wizard Yasir Shah holds the record for the most dominant single-innings bowling performance.
Most Wickets
- Waqar Younis (Pakistan): 149 wickets across combined Tests and ODIs
- Wasim Akram (Pakistan): 118 wickets across combined formats
- Sir Richard Hadlee (New Zealand): 86 wickets across combined formats
- Tim Southee (New Zealand): 78 wickets across combined formats
- Shahid Afridi (Pakistan): 71 wickets across combined formats
Format-Wise Wicket Leaders
- Test Matches: Waqar Younis (Pakistan) leads with 70 wickets
- ODIs: Waqar Younis (Pakistan) leads with 79 wickets
- T20Is: Haris Rauf (Pakistan) leads with 40 wickets
Best Bowling Figures
- Test Matches: Yasir Shah (Pakistan) took 8 wickets for 41 runs at Dubai in 2018
- ODIs: Shoaib Akhtar (Pakistan) took 6 wickets for 16 runs at Karachi in 2002
- T20Is: Umar Gul (Pakistan) took 5 wickets for 6 runs at The Oval in 2009
New Zealand Best Figures
- Test Matches: Sir Richard Hadlee (New Zealand) took 7 wickets for 119 runs at Christchurch in 1984
- ODIs: Shane Bond (New Zealand) took 6 wickets for 19 runs at Dunedin in 2002
- T20Is: Tim Southee (New Zealand) took 5 wickets for 18 runs at Auckland in 2010
Best Economy Rate (Minimum 10 Overs Bowled)
- Test Matches: Nathan Astle (New Zealand) leads with a career economy rate of 1.91 against Pakistan
- ODIs: Martin Snedden (New Zealand) leads with a career economy rate of 2.90 against Pakistan
- T20Is: Abdul Razzaq (Pakistan) leads with a career economy rate of 4.96 against New Zealand
Final Thoughts
The rivalry between New Zealand and Pakistan has continued to evolve with every generation of players. While statistics reveal victories, defeats, and remarkable individual achievements, they cannot fully capture the excitement, pressure, and emotion that define these encounters. Both teams have consistently produced world class cricketers capable of changing a match within a few overs, ensuring that every series remains unpredictable. As new stars emerge and fresh battles begin, this rivalry promises many more memorable scorecards, thrilling finishes, and historic moments. Cricket supporters can expect the New Zealand and Pakistan rivalry to remain one of the sport’s most entertaining international contests for years to come.
FAQs
1. Who has won more matches between New Zealand and Pakistan?
Pakistan has historically enjoyed more victories across all international formats, although New Zealand has significantly narrowed the gap in recent years with consistent performances.
2. What is the highest team total in New Zealand vs Pakistan matches?
The highest totals have generally come in One Day Internationals, where both teams have crossed the 350 run mark in high scoring encounters.
3. Which players have scored the most runs in the New Zealand vs Pakistan rivalry?
Several legendary batters, including Kane Williamson, Babar Azam, Inzamam ul Haq, Ross Taylor, Mohammad Yousuf, and Martin Crowe, have made significant contributions over the years.
4. Which bowlers have been the most successful in this rivalry?
Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Richard Hadlee, Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Daniel Vettori, and Shaheen Shah Afridi are among the leading wicket takers in matches between the two sides.
5. Why is the New Zealand vs Pakistan rivalry considered special?
The rivalry is known for its close contests, contrasting playing styles, memorable ICC tournament clashes, outstanding individual performances, and dramatic finishes across Tests, ODIs, and T20 Internationals.



