Australia managed to chase down 204 runs at the loss of 8 wickets after surviving a late bowling surge by Pakistan. Pakistan were bowled out for 203 runs in the first ODI against Australia in Melbourne on Monday. The greenshirts lost both openers for 24 runs after Australia put them in to bat in the first ODI at the MCG on Monday. Australia has chosen to bowl first on a cool day at the MCG, following Pakistan’s decision to give ODI debuts to opening batsman Saim Ayub and middle-order batsman Irfan Khan. Ayub and Abdullah Shafique opened the batting for Pakistan, despite having a poor record as a Test opening pair. Babar Azam returned to the lineup at No. 3 after being rested for the last two Tests against England at home. Captain Mohammad Rizwan batted at No. 4.

Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah also make their return as part of a four-man pace attack. Rizwan scored 44 while Naseem scored 40 runs in the first innings. This match marks Pakistan’s first ODI since the 2023 World Cup. Test coach Jason Gillespie is stepping in as interim coach after Gary Kirsten resigned from his position as Pakistan’s white-ball coach just before the tour. Australia: Matthew Short, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Steven Smith, Josh Inglis (wk), Marnus Labuschagne, Aaron Hardie, Glenn Maxwell, Sean Abbott, Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Kamran Ghulam, Salman Ali Agha, Irfan Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan