Pakistan too have named their XI for this game very early. They are playing four pacers including the returning Mohammad Hasnain. Kamran Ghulam who made a ton on debut in the recent Test series will make his ODI debut today. How will Pakistan go in this series? Time to find out soon as the toss and teams are next. Stay tuned...
Pakistan meanwhile are playing their first ODI in almost a year. Their last game in this format was in the Cricket World Cup in India in 2023. A lot has changed as far as they are concerned. Babar Azam resigned as captain, was reinstated and again resigned as captain during this period. Mohammad Rizwan has been named the new captain for this format and he will have a challenge on his hands on this tour.
Australia have already named their XI for this game with key players missing. Head and Mitch Marsh are out of the series on paternity leave while the duo of Mitch Starc and Pat Cummins are set to play as they gear up for what is a big summer ahead. Inglis will bat at 4 and take the gloves and it's another chance for impressive allrounder Aaron Hardie to make a mark.
Time for the Aussie summer to start for this year and it does with a three-match ODI series against Pakistan. This ODI series and a one-off ODI are just the 4 games that Australia have before next year's Champions Trophy in Pakistan and that gives these games a lot of context. With David Warner retired from this format, the search for a new opening partner for Travis Head gathers momentum. Matt Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk have a chance to cement that spot as they are set to open in the first game here at the MCG. Hello and a warm welcome to one and all for game 1 of this series.
Teams:
Pakistan (Playing XI): Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan(w/c), Kamran Ghulam, Agha Salman, Irfan Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain
Australia (Playing XI): Matthew Short, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Steven Smith, Josh Inglis(w), Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Aaron Hardie, Pat Cummins(c), Sean Abbott, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa
Squads:
Australia Squad: Jake Fraser-McGurk, Matthew Short, Steven Smith, Josh Inglis(w), Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Aaron Hardie, Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood, Cooper Connolly, Sean Abbott, Marcus Stoinis
Pakistan Squad: Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan(w/c), Kamran Ghulam, Agha Salman, Aamer Jamal, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Arafat Minhas, Faisal Akram, Haseebullah Khan, Irfan Khan
Pakistan
Australia
