After getting tricked by the visitors in the first ODI, Pakistan will now come hard at the Aussies to level the series at 1-1. Pakistan will take on Australia in the second ODI at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on March 31, 2022.
A Travis Head special and Adam Zampa magic proved enough for the hosts, as Australia dominated the first ODI to win it by 88-runs.
After being put in to bat by Babar Azam, Australia needed something close to the 300-run mark. And this was made easier by a flying hundred by the Aussie opener, Travis Head. Defending the total, a four-wicket haul by Adam Zampa puts the break on the home side.
Australia, who are leading the 3-match series 1-0, will try to get an unassailable lead with a win in the 2nd ODI. With both experienced and inexperienced players, the Aaron Finch-led side looks balanced for any bilateral series. But their pace attack is undoubtedly a vulnerable one as there are no big names in it. However, since they have been successful in their tactic and won the first game, Finch shouldn't make any changes in the line-up.
Pakistan, on the other hand, has some thinking to do. After losing the Test Series, now they cannot afford to lose the ODI series in their backyard. This is like a do-or-die encounter for the home side. Babar Azam will expect his team to show some fight against the mighty Aussies. He would love it if his bowlers bowled better than in the first match and restricted the opponents under a decent total.
Though they lost in the first ODI, some positives were taken from that. Imam-ul-Haq's domination with the bat continued after his incredible run in the tests. Babar Azam is now the World No.1 ODI batter, and he is in a purple patch as well. But apart from these two, no one looked like resisting the Aussie bowling attack. After being rested in the first match, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Shadab Khan might return to the playing XI with the series at stake.
Match Details
Pakistan vs Australia- 2nd One Day International
Date and Time- March 31, 2022, 3:30 PM IST
Venue-Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Broadcast- Sony Six, Sony Six HD, Sony Liv App
Pitch Report
The Gaddafi Stadium will be ready for a quick turn up. Two matches in three days, but the pitch's nature remains the same. Another batters day out. Any erring in line and lengths would cost the bowlers. Spinners will, however, extract some spin out of this track. A score of above 300 is a must if one is batting first. With the dew expected to play its part later in the game, the toss-winning skipper would like to chase.
Weather Conditions
According to the forecasts, there is no rain during the match. It will be hot and humid throughout the game. The temperature is expected to be on the higher side.
Squads
Pakistan
Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam(c), Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan(wk), Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Haris Rauf, Zahid Mahmood, Mohammad Nawaz, Usman Qadir, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Abdullah Shafique, Shaheen Afridi, Haider Ali, Mohammad Haris, Shahnawaz Dahani, Asif Afridi
Australia
Aaron Finch(c), Travis Head, Ben McDermott, Marnus Labuschagne, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey(wk), Cameron Green, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Swepson, Ben Dwarshuis, Jason Behrendorff
Probable Playing XI
Pakistan
Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam(c), Saud Shakeel/Asif Ali, Mohammad Rizwan(wk), Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Zahid Mahmood
Australia
Aaron Finch(c), Travis Head, Ben McDermott, Marnus Labuschagne, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey(wk), Cameron Green, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Swepson
CE Fantasy XI
Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Marcus Stoinis, Aaron Finch, Mitchell Swepson, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi
Captain- Babr Azam
Vice-Captain- Adam Zampa