Prosperous Pakistan, led by star-studded captain Babar Azam, begins as favourites against exhausted world champions Australia at the only international Twenty20 tournament on Tuesday in Lahore.
Babar Azam proved why he is the best hitter in the world for a day with hundreds of streaks to help Pakistan win the Over-50 series at the weekend and he is equally fighting in the shorter version of the game.
Azam’s 276 appearances in three matches, as well as his 298 opener against Imam al-Haq, helped Pakistan clinch the series 2-1, including chasing the record 349 in the second game.
“We took a few big hits from Babar and Imam,” said Australia captain Aaron Finch.
Andrew MacDonald, the interim head coach of Australia, also referred to Azzam as the dangerous man.
“Pakistan has always been a handful in their own circumstances,” he said.
“Babar Azam did incredibly well in the ODI series to make it really difficult for us.”
Injury-hit Australia will play only three players from the team that beat Pakistan in the semi-finals of the 20th World Cup in Dubai last year.
Australia went on to win the title, with Mitchell Marsh playing the title role in the final against New Zealand. The multi-skilled player came out injured this time.
Pakistan has the advantage in overall results, having won 12 of 22 matches against the tourists. One match was a tie and one was fruitless.
MacDonald backed captain Finch to get back into shape after back-to-back ducks in the last two indoor games, after only 23 in the first.
“He has this ability to work through these spots,” MacDonald said.
“Do we think he’s still good enough to play at this level? Yes 100 per cent and that’s very simple for us.”
MacDonald said spindle Ashton Agar and reserve volleyball guard Josh Inglis should be available for selection after losing the ODI series following positive tests for Covid.
PAK sv AUS Only T20 Team Squads
Pakistan: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan, Asif Afridi, Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Zahid Mahmood, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Junior, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shahnawaz Dahani, Usman Qadir
Australia: Aaron Finch (captain), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Ben McDermott, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Adam Zampa
