Pakistan vs Australia, Pakistan v Australia in UAE, 2019, Today Match Prediction 22 Mar 2019

pak vs aus Match Prediction & Analysis

Host Pakistan will be looking to get off to a good start when they take on Australia in the opening game of the one-day series in Sharjah on Friday.

Captain Sarfaraz Ahmed have been rested for the one-day series as Shoaib Malik will lead the side for the one-day series. Pace bowler Mohammad Hasnain and middle-order batsman Umar Akmal have been included in the squad for the five-match one-day series.

On the other hand, Captain Aaron Finch will be looking to build on their historic series win in India. The visitors have gone with the same set of players that did well on the tour of India.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Pakistan Preview

The selectors have included uncapped players like Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Abbas, Abid Ali and Saad Ali for the one-day series. Umar Akmal has earned a recall to the national side on the back of strong performances delivered in the recently concluded Pakistan Super League.

In the batting department, the side will be relying on the likes of Imam-ul-Haq, Shoaib Malik and Haris Sohail to do the bulk of the scoring. Opener Imam-ul-Haq topped the batting charts for Pakistan in the previous one-day series played in South Africa. He showed incredible consistency to produce notable scores for the side against South Africa.

Shoaib Malik and Haris Sohail will certainly need to shoulder the responsibility in terms of doing the bulk of the scoring.  Mohammad Rizwan is the first-choice keeper for the side in the absence of Sarfaraz Ahmed. All-rounders Faheem Ashraf and Imad Wasim are proven performers and provide value with bat and ball.

In the bowling department, uncapped pace-bowler Mohammad Hasnain will be one to watch out for in this one-day series. He performed well in his debut season for Quetta Gladiators in this year’s Pakistan Super League.

Usman Khan Shinwari, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Amir and Junaid Khan are premier pace options for Pakistan for the one-day series. Leg-spinner Yasir Shah also makes a return to the limited-overs side for this series.

Pakistan Predicted Playing XI:

Shoaib Malik (c), Shan Masood, Imam-ul-Haq, Haris Sohail, Umar Akmal, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Usman Khan Shinwari/Mohammad Hasnain.

Pakistan Actual Playing XI:

Yasir Shah, SI Wasim, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Amir, Shan Masood, Umar Akmal, Haris Sohail, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Abbas, Faheem Ashraf, Imam-ul-Haq

Australia Preview

The visitors will be keen to continue their winning momentum in this one-day series. Australia ended their winless streak with a one-day series win against India played earlier this month. 

In the batting department, the side will be relying on the likes of Usman Khuwaja, Aaron Finch and Peter Handscomb to do the bulk of the scoring. Captain Aaron Finch found form with the bat in the one-day series played against India. He will be hoping that he can maintain his good form against Pakistan.

Opening batsman Usman Khuwaja has topped the batting charts for Australia so far this year with 497 runs in 8 matches at an average of 62.12 with two centuries to his name. Khuwaja was standout performer with the bat for Australia in the five-match one-day series played against India. He scored 383 runs in 5 matches at an average of 76.60. Shaun Marsh struggled to get going in the one-day series played against India. Left-handed batsman will be keen to make a strong comeback in this series. Marsh has been consistent performer for Australia in limited-overs cricket in the past 12 months.

Middle-order Peter Handscomb has done exceedingly well with the bat so far this year. He has looked pro-active at the crease against the spinners in the middle overs of the innings. For the current season, he has scored 387 runs in 8 matches at an average of 48.37. Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell and wicket-keeper Alex Carey have contributed with decent scores for the side in the one-day series played against India.

In the bowling department, new-ball pair of Jason Behrendorff and Pat Cummins have made early inroads for Australia. Cummins was standout performer with the ball against India and claimed 14 wickets in 5 matches at an average of 15.71. Rookie pacer Jhye Richardson also has done well for Australia in limited-overs cricket. The spin duo of Nathan Lyon and Adam Zampa bowled well in tandem and were able to gain reasonable amount of success against India in the five-match one-day series.

Australia Predicted Playing XI:

Usman Khawaja, Aaron Finch (c), Peter Handscomb, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Ashton Turner, Alex Carey (wk), Jhye Richardson, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Adam Zampa.

Australia Actual Playing XI:

Aaron Finch, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Jhye Richardson, Alex Carey, Peter Handscomb, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Usman Khawaja, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa, Nathan Lyon

Weather Conditions

The wicket prepared for this game will be excellent batting. The recent games played at the venue in Pakistan Super League saw batsmen dominate the proceedings. The weather forecast for the game on Sunday will be cloudy skies.

Venue

Recently, Sharjah Cricket Association hosted a couple of games in the Pakistan Super League. It has been happy hunting ground for Pakistan, who have been able to win their last four one-day games at the venue. The side’s last defeat came against England in November 2015.

Toss: To Bowl

The side that wins the toss would like to bowl first and restrict the opposing team to a modest total. It will get easier to bat under lights at the venue.