Australia won the toss in the opening ODI against Pakistan at the MCG and chose to field first.
Pakistan enters the series with significant changes. Former coach Gary Kirsten has stepped down, replaced by Australian Jason Gillespie as interim coach.
Leadership changes have also impacted the team, with Mohammad Rizwan recently assuming the captaincy after Babar Azam stepped down from leading the limited-overs side.
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Returning to the squad are key players Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Naseem Shah, who missed the recent Test series against England.
Pakistan has also handed ODI debuts to Saim Ayub and Irfan Khan, with cricket legend Wasim Akram presenting their caps.
The team has opted for a pace-focused lineup, featuring four fast bowlers. Mohammad Hasnain returns to international cricket after a nearly two-year absence, following strong performances in domestic matches.
Australia’s captain, Pat Cummins, makes his international comeback, his first since the T20 World Cup in June. However, the squad is without Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head, both on paternity leave during this three-game series.
This series is a critical warm-up for Australia ahead of next year’s Champions Trophy, with only one more ODI planned (against Sri Lanka) before the tournament.
Australia’s lineup has been impacted by Cameron Green’s injury, though their middle order remains strong, with players like 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
