ISLAMABAD (PEN) : Australia has won the coin toss in the opening ODI match against Pakistan at the MCG and opted to bowl first.
Pakistan enters this series amid major changes. Former coach Gary Kirsten has stepped down, with Australian Jason Gillespie stepping in as interim coach.
The team has also undergone leadership changes, with Mohammad Rizwan recently taking over captaincy duties after Babar Azam’s decision to step down from limited-overs leadership.
The Pakistan squad sees the return of key players Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Naseem Shah, who were notably absent from recent Test matches against England.
Two newcomers, Saim Ayub and Irfan Khan, received their first ODI caps from Pakistan cricket legend Wasim Akram.
The green shirts have opted for a pace-heavy attack with four fast bowlers. Mohammad Hasnain makes his return to international cricket after nearly two years, having impressed in domestic competition.
Australian captain Pat Cummins makes his return to international cricket, having been absent since the T20 World Cup in June. The team is missing Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head, who are both away on paternity leave for this three-match series.
Australia sees this series as crucial preparation for next year’s Champions Trophy, with only one more ODI scheduled (against Sri Lanka) before that tournament.
The Australian squad has had to adjust to Cameron Green’s injury absence for the season, though they maintain a strong 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
