The decision has been made to accommodate all-rounders Corey Anderson and Jimmy Neesham in the starting XI, which means incumbent opener Hamish Rutherford misses out.
McCullum has recently enjoyed the richest vein of form in his 87-test career from the middle order, averaging 48.82 in his most recent 15 tests.
New Zealand will play just two specialist pace bowlers, Tim Southee and Trent Boult, to allow them to include spinners Mark Craig and Ish Sodhi.
McCullum officially ceased opening in January 2013 against South Africa, but had a cameo filling in for an ill Rutherford in one West Indies test.
He averages 34.60 in 17 tests as an opener compared to 37.10 overall. However, on the sub-continent that average rockets to 44.75 in seven tests, partly boosted by his 225 in Hyderabad during 2010.
"This is a horses-for-courses approach," McCullum said. "For us to have the extra bowling option [of another all-rounder], it was the best choice available. We've got six bowling options and go in with a better opportunity to take 20 wickets.
"Pakistan are going to be a formidable team in these conditions. Bolstering our bowling means one spinner [Sodhi] takes the ball away from their right-handers and another [Craig] takes it away from their left-handers. In addition to those options, we've got two bowlers capable of pitching it up and swinging it late in Tim [Southee] and Trent [Boult]. We've also got a number of left-right batting combinations in the [batting] order.
"I've opened before and had some success in the sub-continent. You do what's required to give the best chance of winning. I'm looking forward to batting with Tom [Latham]. He's an exciting young talent who's measured at the crease."
New Zealand XI: Brendon McCullum (c), Tom Latham, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Corey Anderson, Jimmy Neesham, BJ Watling, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Mark Craig, Trent Boult.
