Pakistan and Australia will battle it out in the first One-Day International (OD) of the five-match series in Sharjah on Friday.
Both teams are coming from completely different preparations before the series, therefore performance may vary in the beginning.
All the player of the home side are coming after taking part in the Pakistan Super League – country's own cash-rich T20 league – and therefore, they will have to lower down their tempo in order to secure positive results in the 50-over format.
There are host of changes in the Men in Green's squad as six players – including regular captain Sarfraz Ahmed and young Babar Azam – will not take part in the five-match series against the Kangaroos as they've been rested keeping the upcoming ICC World Cup in view.
In their absence, the team will be led by veteran middle-order batsman Shoaib Malik, who will have the added responsibility of leading from the front and make significant contributions with the bat.
Malik will have the support of in-form opener Imam-Ul-Haq, left-hander Haris Sohail and returning middler-order batsman Umar Akmal to put a formidable total on the board.
Left-handed opening batsman Shan Masood is almost certain to make his debut for the Green Caps in the 50-over format on Friday.
On the bowling front, the team will be relying on the likes of left-arm spinner Imad Wasim and pacers Faheem Ashraf and Mohammad Amir to do bulk of the damage.
Leg-spinner Yasir Shah is expected to be a
Pakistan and Australia will battle it out in the first One-Day International (OD) of the five-match series in Sharjah on Friday.
Both teams are coming from completely different preparations before the series, therefore performance may vary in the beginning.
All the player of the home side are coming after taking part in the Pakistan Super League – country's own cash-rich T20 league – and therefore, they will have to lower down their tempo in order to secure positive results in the 50-over format.
There are host of changes in the Men in Green's squad as six players – including regular captain Sarfraz Ahmed and young Babar Azam – will not take part in the five-match series against the Kangaroos as they've been rested keeping the upcoming ICC World Cup in view.
In their absence, the team will be led by veteran middle-order batsman Shoaib Malik, who will have the added responsibility of leading from the front and make significant contributions with the bat.
Malik will have the support of in-form opener Imam-Ul-Haq, left-hander Haris Sohail and returning middler-order batsman Umar Akmal to put a formidable total on the board.
Left-handed opening batsman Shan Masood is almost certain to make his debut for the Green Caps in the 50-over format on Friday.
On the bowling front, the team will be relying on the likes of left-arm spinner Imad Wasim and pacers Faheem Ashraf and Mohammad Amir to do bulk of the damage.
Leg-spinner Yasir Shah is expected to be a part of the playing XI for the series opener, which means he will be playing his first ODI since July 2018, whereas PSL sensation Mohammad Hasnain is also likely to make his debut for the home side on Friday.
On the other hand, Australia will be coming in the series full of confidence after securing an emphatic triumph in the five-match ODI series against India.
The result in that series becomes even more impressive considering the fact that the Kangaroos were 2-0 down and went on to clinch the series with three consecutive wins.
In the batting department, the visitors will be relying on in-form left-hander Usman Khawaja, captain Aaron Finch, young Ashton Turner and Marcus Stoinis to score bulk of the runs, whereas on the bowling front, the onus will be on the spin duo of Adam Zampa and Nathan Lyon to do bulk of the damage.
Key players:
Imam Ul-Haq – 9.5 Cr
First in the list of key players features Pakistan's Imam Ul-Haq. The 23-year-old is in great form in the limited overs and showed his colours in the recently concluded PSL as well, where he was the second-highest run-scorer (341) for his franchise Peshawar Zalmi at an average of 28.41 with four half-centuries included. Ul-Haq's ODI career makes amazing reading as well where he averages 60.55 in 21 matches with five centuries and five fifties. Those numbers suggest that Ul-Haq is turning into a really good limited-overs player and therefore, having him in your team might not prove to be a bad call.
Usman Khawaja – 10 Cr
Second in the list of key players features Australia's Usman Khawaja. The left-hander is in the form of his life in the 50-over format as he bagged the player of the series award in Australia's previous 50-over assignment against India, where he scored 383 runs in five matches with the help of two centuries and two fifties. Those numbers prove that Khawaja is a turning into a real deal in the limited-overs as well, and therefore, he is the player to have in your team.
Faheem Ashraf – 8.5 Cr
Last in the list of key players features Pakistan's Faheem Ashraf. The right-armer is in great form with the ball in hand off late and finished the fourth edition of PSL as the second-highest wicket-taker with 21 scalps in 12 matches while representing his franchise Islamabad United. In the 50-over format, Ashraf has a very decent record with 18 wickets in 18 outings at an economy-rate of just 4.48. Those numbers suggest that Ashraf, who is valued at 8.5 Cr, might prove to be a really good pick for your team for the match on Friday.
