Australia Wins Toss and Chooses to Bowl First in ODI Against Pakistan
Opening ODI match set to take place at the MCG
Melbourne-(Sports Reporter): Australia has won the coin toss for the opening ODI match against Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and has opted to bowl first.
Pakistan comes into this series with significant changes, including the departure of former coach Gary Kirsten, who has been replaced by Australian Jason Gillespie as the interim coach. Additionally, there have been leadership changes within the team, with Mohammad Rizwan assuming captaincy duties following Babar Azam’s decision to step down from limited-overs captaincy.
The Pakistan squad sees the return of prominent players Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Naseem Shah, who were notably absent in the recent Test series against England. Two newcomers, Saim Ayub and Irfan Khan, received their first ODI caps from cricket legend Wasim Akram.
The Pakistani team has opted for a pace-heavy bowling attack, featuring four fast bowlers. Mohammad Hasnain returns to international cricket after nearly two years, having made a strong impression in domestic competitions.
On the Australian side, captain Pat Cummins makes his return to the international arena after being sidelined since the T20 World Cup in June. However, the team will be without Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head, both of whom are on paternity leave for this three-match series.
Australia views this series as an important preparation for the upcoming Champions Trophy next year, with only one more ODI scheduled against Sri Lanka before that tournament. Despite having to cope with Cameron Green’s injury absence for the season, Australia boasts a formidable middle order, featuring Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, and Glenn Maxwell.
Teams:
Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (c), Kamran Ghulam, Salman Ali Agha, Irfan Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain
Australia: Matt Short, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Aaron Hardie, Sean Abbott, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa
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