RAWALPINDI: Pakistan have won the toss and decided to bat in the first Test against Australia being played in Rawalpindi Cricket Ground on Friday.
After winning the toss, Pakistani captain Babar Azam said, “The pitch looks nice so we’ll try to put runs on the board.” He said they have brought Iftikhar Ahmed as spinners may come into play.
It is the first time in 24 years that Australia have toured Pakistan Australia have taken a full-strength squad to Pakistan. Both sides have spent the last two days preparing for the Test at the venue in three-hour long, training, fielding and nets session of great intensity and quality.
Babar Azam, Azhar Ali, Fawad Alam and Mohammad Rizwan are going to shoulder batting responsibilities while Australia possess batters like Steve Smith, David Warner, Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne.
Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Nauman Ali and Sajid Khan will provide real ammunition to Pakistan’s varied bowling attack while quicks Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc appear likely to partner skipper Pat Cummins.
Ashton Agar and Mitchell Swepson are in the touring party should the Aussies choose to provide veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon with some support. They also have all-rounders Cameron Green and Mitchell Marsh at their disposal, so there is a lot to ponder for Cummins and interim coach Andrew McDonald
Pakistani squad faced a setback with injuries to Hasan Ali and Faheem Ashraf compounded by a positive Covid-19 test by uncapped quick Haris Rauf earlier this week.
The two sides have kept a close eye on the Rawalpindi pitch which has a tradition of being a sporting one. The last Test played at the venue was Pakistan’s 95-run triumph against South Africa almost a year ago. Since the return of Test cricket in Pakistan in December 2019, this will be the fourth Test at the venue. The 2020 Pakistan-Sri Lanka match ended in a draw.
Pakistan
Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam (capt), Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Iftikhar Ahmed, Nauman Ali, 9 Sajid Khan, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi
Australia
David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
