Pakistan skipper Mohammad Rizwan has confirmed that Babar Azam will open the batting against New Zealand in the first match of the tri-series, which involves South Africa as well. The three teams will be facing each other once and the top two teams will then play the final, as the tri-series format makes a return to international cricket after a long gap.

Pakistan will be without the services of star batter Saim Ayub for the tri-series beginning Saturday, February 8 and the Champions Trophy as he couldn't recover in time from the leg injury he sustained during the South Africa tour.

Asked who would open, Rizwan decided to use the famous line associated with Babar to hint that the latter could be the one coming out to open besides Fakhar Zaman.

"Iske jawaab mein woh baat ki thi na, 'King kar lega'." (The answer is, there was a line 'King will do it')," Rizwan said at the pre-match press conference. Watch the video here:

While Babar has been a success at No. 3 for Pakistan in ODIs, his record as an opener is unimpressive. In two games as an opener, he has scored only 26 runs, with the highest score of 22. At No. 3, he has scored 5416 runs at a stunning average of 60.17.

“We have the best choice of players so it is an important series and the best preparation for the bigger event, the Champions Trophy," Rizwan said. The final of the tri-series will be played on February 14.

Pakistan will show its upgraded stadium at Lahore when it takes on New Zealand in the opening match on Saturday of a tri-series cricket tournament, which involves an understrength South Africa.

It is a busy time for Pakistan cricket. The 35,000-capacity Gaddafi stadium has been upgraded in less than four months for the nation's first major ICC tournament in over two decades when it will host the eight-nation Champions Trophy, beginning February 19.

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