LAHORE: Following a promising victory in the opening one-day international (ODI), an upbeat Australia, with an aim to pocket the series, will take on Pakistan in the second ODI of the three-match series at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium today (Thursday).
Having lost the three-Test series 1-0 at the same venue, Babar Azam and his men look for a turnaround against a largely inexperienced yet professional Australian side in the second ODI that would decide the fate of the three-game rubber.
The Men in Green showed poor performance in the opening game played sans key players Shaheen Afridi and Shadab Khan. Tuesday’s 88-run loss was Pakistan’s tenth consecutive ODI defeat at the hands of Australia, currently third on ICC one-day rankings.
Except for opener Imam-ul-Haq and skipper Babar, who scored a century and a half-century, respectively, the batters failed to develop big partnerships.
Pakistan’s bowling also lacked the sting which allowed Australia to post a huge 313-7. A Shaheen-less bowling attack comprising experienced pacer Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah plus debutants Mohammad Wasim and Zahid Mahmood could not stop the Australian onslaught.
Without experienced campaigners like Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Steve Smith, David Warner and Glenn Maxwell due to different reasons, the Aaron Finch-led Aussies still ruled the roost in the first ODI giving a wake-up call to Pakistan.
Babar looks forward to better bowling by Shaheen, who is expected to be back in the playing XI, Hassan Ali, and Haris Rauf, while the Kangaroos will seek to continue their momentum from the first game in which Travis Head, Adam Zampa and Cameron Green shined for them.
Pakistan need precious points from this ODI series to keep alive their hopes to qualify for the 2023 World Cup to be held in India. Currently, the greenshirts are 10th on the table, while seven top countries will qualify for the showpiece.
The pitch
The pitch of the Gaddafi Stadium has always been batting friendly and the first match made it clear that a lot of runs would be coming off this track. However, spinners are getting help in the middle overs.
The weather remains hot and dry in Lahore where all three ODIs and the lone T20 International are to be played.
Teams:
PAKISTAN: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Haris Rauf, Zahid Mahmood, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Qadir, Asif Ali, Shahnawaz Dahani
AUSTRALIA: Travis Head, Aaron Finch (captain), Ben McDermott, Marnus Labuschagne, Marcus Stoinis, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wicket-keeper), Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Swepson.
