Australia and Pakistan ODI. (Source – Getty Images)
After a riveting ODI series where Pakistan came from behind to beat Australia 2-1, the two cricketing powerhouses are set to play three T20Is, starting with the first encounter on Thursday, November 14, in Brisbane.
This is going to be Pakistan’s first assignment in the shortest format of the game since their disappointing campaign in the T20 World Cup in June. The Men in Green were ousted in the first round after suffering defeats to arch-rivals India and debutants USA. Babar Azam led the side at the marquee event but he has now been replaced by Mohammad Rizwan, who earned a lot of praise for how he spearheaded the side during the ODIs. The wicketkeeper-batter will want to lead from the front and inspire his team to another series win.
Pakistan have a lot of new faces in their squad. Omair Yousuf and Sufyan Moqim are two exciting young players to look forward to. They made their Pakistan debuts in the Asian Games last year. Meanwhile, Salman Ali Agha has received his maiden T20I call-up. The bowling side, comprises the formidable trio of Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah. Babar will also have to play a crucial role as the anchor in the batting order.
Australia have assembled a strong side, notwithstanding the absence of their frontline pacers, who are busy preparing for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The Aussies made it to the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup but defeats to India and Afghanistan saw them bidding farewell to the global event. After whitewashing Scotland in a three-match T20I series, Australia played a couple of T20I against England. The series against the Three Lions ended 1-1 after the last game was washed out.
Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, and Marcus Stoinis are the three players to look forward to in the batting department. Meanwhile, the opening duo of Matt Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk will have to do better after failing in all the three ODIs. Adam Zampa will be leading the bowling unit and he will be supported by the likes of Sean Abbott and Spencer Johnson among others.
Also Read: Mohammad Rizwan sets eyes on T20I whitewash against Australia after ODI success
Match Details:
| Match | Venue | Date and Time | Live Streaming and Broadcast Details |
| Australia vs Pakistan, 1st T20I | The Gabba, Brisbane | Thursday, November 14, 1:30 PM IST | Star Sports network and Disney+ Hotstar (App and Website) |
Pitch Report
In the 10 T20Is played at The Gabba, seven have been won by teams batting first. Chasing teams have emerged victorious on only three occasions. The captain who wins the toss might still want to chase as is the trend in T20 cricket. Teams like to have a target in front and plan their run-chase accordingly. The average first innings score is 169.
Head-To-Head Record
| Matches | Won by Australia | Won by Pakistan | No Result | Tied | First-ever Fixture | Most-recent Fixture |
| 25 | 11 | 13 | 01 | – | 18 September, 2007 | 5 April, 2022 |
AUS vs PAK Playing XIs
Australia
Zampa is expected to play as the lone spinner with Maxwell offering him support. Spencer Johnson and Sean Abbott should start for the hosts but they might need to pick one pacer between Xavier Bartlett and Nathan Ellis. Aaron Hardie and Marcus Stoinis will be there to support the seam-bowling department if needed.
Predicted XI – Matt Short, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Josh Inglis (wk/c), Glenn Maxwell, Aaron Hardie, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Sean Abbott, Spencer Johnson, Adam Zampa, Nathan Ellis
Pakistan
Pakistan might rely on unpredictability and the element of surprise in this series. The bowling line-up picks itself and so does the duo of Babar and Rizwan. These experienced players will have to guide the younger ones along the way. There is enough talent in the Pakistan side to give the Aussies a good run for their money.
Playing XI – Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (c & wk), Haseebullah Khan, Usman Khan, Omair Yousuf, Sufyan Moqim, Abbas Afridi, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf