LAHORE: Pakistan will want to make a great comeback in today’s second One-Day International of the current three-match series against Australia at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium (Thursday).
On Wednesday, the hosts lost the first one-day match against Australia by 88 runs on home soil. They are now looking for a way to keep the series alive.
The Babar Azam-led squad struggled in the first game, which was contested without important players like Shaheen Afridi and Shadab Khan.
Imam-ul-Haq and Babar were the only openers who hit centuries, but the rest of the batters couldn’t form big partnerships.
Babar anticipates improved bowling from Shaheen, who is likely to return to the starting XI, Hassan Ali, and Haris Rauf, while the Kangaroos will try to build on their first-game success, which saw Travis Head, Adam Zampa, and Cameron Green shine.
While Travis made a century and took two wickets, Zampa claimed four wickets and Cameron had a quick cameo at the conclusion of their innings. Ben Mcdermott, 27, was another standout batsman, scoring 55 off 70 balls.
The elevator pitch
The Gaddafi Stadium’s surface has traditionally been batting friendly, and the first match demonstrated that a lot of runs will be scored on this track. Spinners, on the other hand, are receiving assistance in the middle overs.
All three ODIs and the lone Twenty20 will be played in Lahore, which is still hot and dry.
It seemed as if the series might have to be cancelled because of COVID-19 instances in the Australian camp, but on Wednesday, all members of the travelling group tested negative.
A XI in action
Imam-ul-Haq (C), Shadab Khan, Khushdil Shah, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Nawaz, Asif Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Mohd Wasim Jr, Haider Ali, Saud Sakeel, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali, Shhnawaz Dahani, Iftikhar Ahmed, Usman Qadir.
Aaron Finch (C), Sean Abbott, Adam Zampa, Ashton Agar, Ben McDermott, Jason Behrendorff, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey (WK), Mithcell Swepson, Ben Dwarshuis, Marnus Labuschangne, Nathan Elis, Cameron Green, Travis Head (WK).
