Pakistan and Australia are playing their last warm-up match of the ICC World Cup 2023 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad, on Tuesday.
After a poor start, leg-spinner Usama Mir provided Pakistan a much-needed breakthrough as he sent David Warner and Mitchell Marsh back to the pavilion in consecutive overs.
After Mir grabbed his second wicket, the Rajiv Gandhi stadium resonated with Pakistan’s national song “Dil Dil Pakistan”.
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Haris Rauf and Mohammad Nawaz picked one wicket each and helped their side get back in the game.
By the time this story was filed, Australia was batting at 189-5 in 32.4 overs with Cameroon Green (0*) and Glenn Maxwell (9*) on the crease.
It must be noted that Shadab Khan is leading Pakistan in the absence of Babar Azam, who may only play as a batter while Mohammad Haris replaced Mohammad Rizwan as the wicketkeeper.
Earlier, Australia won the toss and opted to bat first.
Despite posting a colossal total of 345 in their first warm-up match against the Black Caps, Pakistan not only lost by five wickets but New Zealand chased the target in just 43.4 overs courtesy of a subpar bowling display by the Green Shirts.
While Australia's match against the Netherlands was called off due to rain.
The ICC World Cup 2023 warm-up matches consist of 50 overs per side. However, these matches won't have ODI status because teams will have the flexibility to include all 15 members of their squad in the playing XI.
Squads:
Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Wasim
Australia: Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Sean Abbott, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Starc
