Big picture: Back to the future for Pakistan, Australia’s depth challenged
The 2027 ODI World Cup is starting to appear on the horizon and although it is still 16 months away, the number of ODI opportunities both teams have between now and then will diminish quickly.
Australia have 15 ODIs scheduled through the remainder of this year, six of which will be played in Pakistan and Bangladesh over the next two weeks. While games in subcontinental conditions won’t have much relevance to southern Africa, especially given the stifling Pakistan heat at this time of the year, the opportunities to trial combinations are precious.
Pakistan have some recent ODI cricket to work off. But after losing a three-match series in Bangladesh in March they have made a number of changes that are very much on-brand. Babar Azam, Naseem Shah and Shadab Khan return, with the latter having not played an ODI since the 2023 World Cup. The uncapped trio of wicketkeeper-batter Rohail Nazir, left-arm spinner Arafat Minhas, and fast bowler Ahmed Daniyal have also been included in the squad.
Mohammad Rizwan is a striking omission, having captained Pakistan to an ODI series win in Australia the last time these sides met just over 18 months ago. Faisal Akram, Faheem Ashraf, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Wasim Jnr and Saad Masood have also been omitted from the team that lost in Bangladesh while Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, and Usman Khan are unavailable due to injury and illness.
Australia are missing a stack of first-choice players due to the IPL, workload management and injury. Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are missing the entire tour of the subcontinent for workload reasons, with Hazlewood still involved in the IPL playoffs.
Travis Head, Xavier Bartlett and Ben Dwarshuis were left out of the Pakistan leg because of their IPL involvement, even though their respective teams have since been knocked out. Mitchell Marsh has succumbed to an ankle injury while Cooper Connolly was initially left out of the Pakistan series due to Punjab Kings anticipated IPL playoff tilt but will fly to Pakistan on Saturday as Marsh’s replacement with the aim of being available for the final two ODIs.
The absence of Cummins, Marsh and Head means Josh Inglis will captain, as he did when Cummins, Marsh and Head were all missing from the final ODI against Pakistan in Perth in 2024, which Australia lost. Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Marnus Labuschagne, Adam Zampa and Nathan Ellis are the other experienced tourists. Matt Renshaw has a chance to bed himself into Australia’s middle order ahead of the World Cup while Matt Short can also re-establish his credentials after losing his CA contract.
Australia are taking a long lens with 19-year-old Ollie Peake while allrounder Liam Scott is also in line for an international debut after two years of outstanding performances in all three formats at domestic level. The return of Billy Stanlake to international cricket after seven years out is eye-catching and his presence in the squad alongside Riley Meredith is an indication Australia’s selectors are looking for tall quicks with high pace for a World Cup in southern Africa should anything happen to the big three.
Form guide
Pakistan LWLWW (last five completed matches, most recent first) Australia LWWWL
In the spotlight: Babar Azam and Cameron Green
When is Babar Azam not in the spotlight? No one has more ODI hundreds or a higher average for Pakistan of those with more than 400 runs, yet Babar was axed from the Bangladesh ODI tour due to a poor T20 World Cup. He returns to the ODI fold on the back of an outstanding PSL where he found the extra gear his critics have asked for to help Peshawar Zalmi to the title. He will get the chance to showcase that in his most prolific format against an understrength Australia attack to re-establish his place in Pakistan’s top order.
Likewise, Cameron Green is constantly in the spotlight. His place in Australia’s first choice XI across all three formats has been a source of fierce debate despite scoring a 55-ball 118 not out in his last ODI in August last year. That came at No. 3, finishing an innings from the 35th over onwards after Head and Marsh put on 250 for the first wicket against South Africa. Green missed Australia’s most recent ODI series against India in November to prepare for the Ashes. Despite being more comfortable in the top order, Australia see potential in his finishing ability and look set to trial him there as they search for a permanent replacement for Glenn Maxwell. Coach Andrew McDonald said his bowling will be vital heading towards 2027 and he got better with the ball the longer the IPL went. He is expected to have a substantial role with the ball.
Team news: Pakistan back experience, Australia trial youth
Pakistan will be tempted to field their best possible XI in the first ODI to gain an upper hand in the series with Babar set to slot back into No.3 while a three-pace, two-spin attack will be well-balanced for the conditions.
Pakistan (probable): 1 Sahibzada Farhan, 2 Maaz Sadaqat, 3 Babar Azam, 4 Salman Ali Agha, 5 Abdul Samad, 6 Ghazi Ghouri (wk), 7 Shadab Khan, 8 Shaheen Afridi (capt), 9 Naseem Shah, 10 Haris Rauf, 11 Abrar Ahmed
How Australia set up is anyone’s guess. They need a second stand-in opener alongside Short and the middle-order remains a mystery. There would be a temptation to play two spinners given they have three available but the evening dew may discourage it. All 14 squad members are an option to play in the opening game with debuts for Peake and Scott possible. Connolly won’t be available for the first match as he arrives in Pakistan on game day.
Australia (probable): 1 Matt Short, 2 Alex Carey, 3 Marnus Labuschagne, 4 Josh Inglis (capt & wk), 5 Matt Renshaw/Ollie Peake, 6 Cameron Green, 7 Liam Scott, 8 Nathan Ellis, 9 Riley Meredith, 10 Adam Zampa, 11 Billy Stanlake/Matt Kuhnemann/Tanveer Sangha
Pitch and conditions: Heat and dew set to dictate tactics
It is set to be a fraction cooler on Saturday compared to the oppressive heat that has featured this week in Rawalpindi and there are thunderstorms forecast in the area. The games are starting at 4.30pm local time to avoid the worst of the heat but it will mean dew will be a huge factor in the second half of the game. The toss could be vital.
Stats and trivia:
Quotes
“I’m just trying to soak it all in. We’ve got a core group of senior players that are here now, and it makes the guys that are inexperienced and coming in for their first tour, like me and Peaky, try and learn as much as we can and see how we go from there.” Liam Scott on his first experience around the Australia squad
Alex Malcolm is an associate editor at ESPNcricinfo
