During the Champions Trophy’s first match in Karachi Mohammad Rizwan won the toss and elected to make New Zealand bat first on Wednesday.
Pakistan will host its first global cricket tournament since 1996 through the eight-nation ODI competition.
Pacer Haris Rauf joins the home team after recovering from his lower chest muscular sprain sustained during last week’s tri-series.
Abrar Ahmed is Pakistan’s only frontline spinner.
New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra is unable to play following his severe head injury from the tri-series opening match.
Lockie Ferguson and Ben Sears have been forced out of the event due to injuries which means The Black Caps are missing their pace duo.
Group A during the tournament includes both Pakistan and New Zealand as well as India and Bangladesh. Group B features Australia together with England, South Africa and Afghanistan.
Pakistan holds the title as the defending champions of the tournament that concludes on March 9.
India decided to play their matches in the United Arab Emirates because New Delhi refused to send its team to Pakistan because of political tensions.
Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Salman Agha, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi
New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (captain), Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Nathan Smith, Kane Williamson, Will Young