Pakistan are on their tour to Australia for a three-match ODI series and as many T20Is. They have made several changes to their squad and the biggest among them is Mohammad Rizwan being appointed as the new skipper.
The first ODI match has been featured at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, as the Aussies has put the visitors to bat first. Pat Cummins makes his return as the Australian skipper. The likes of Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh are unavailable due to paternal leaves.
Pakistan are in utter trouble, as they are struggling with 6 wickets down for just 117 runs on the board with less than 20 overs of the game remaining.
Kamran Ghulam, the debutant, came into bat after the wicket of Babar Azam for a well-made 37 runs. Ghulam, having played a dead defense shot against Cummins on the first ball, posed his bat towards the non-striker, similar to Steven Smith, the great Australian.
However, the very next ball was a ripper from Pat Cummins. He bowled a good-length bumper that took the outside edge of Ghulam and was caught behind.
Pakistan struggles with the bat against Australia in first ODI
Ace Australian pacer Mitchell Starc and returning skipper Pat Cummins made their return with the new ball for the Aussies. While Starc got rid of the debutant Saim Ayub, he was soon followed by the other opening batter, Abdullah Shafique, both dismissed by the left-arm pacer.
While Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan both stabilized the Pakistan innings for some time, the pair fell, with Azam dismissed by the spinner Zampa. Cummins came back to take Kamran Ghulam’s wicket, while Abbott removed Salman Ali Agha.
Labuschagne had the biggest breakthrough of the match, dismissing the Pakistan skipper, while Shaheen Shah Afridi added vital runs towards the backend alongside the debutant Irfan Khan for the 7th wicket partnership, before being dismissed by Mitchell Starc.
