Two equally balanced teams Pakistan and Australia would lock horns today at Karachi for what appears to be a mouth watering contest. In the historic test series in Pakistan after 23 years the teams played out a dull , drab and dreary drawn match on a flat wicket at Rawalpindi . Karachi wicket promises to be livelier and may assist both reverse swing and spin as the match wears on. Weather is also expected to hold good over all five days of the match. Australia has lost 6 of the 8 tests played on the venue. Cummins squad would love change that.
Australia would hand over debut to leg spinner Mitchell Swepson , the bowler who epitomizes legendary Shane Warne whose dead body is waiting for last rite at MCG on 30 Match. Pakistan may bring in pace bowling all-rounder Fahim Ashraf and replace Nasim Shah with fit again Hasan Ali to pair with Shaheen Shah Afridi. The two took 88 test wickets in 2021.
Pakistan (probable) Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam (capt), Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Hasan Ali, and Shaheen Shah Afridi Australia David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (Capt.), Mitchell Swepson and Nathan Lyon
Australia could manage taking only four wickets on the docile wicket of Rawalpindi. PCB Chief former Pakistan Captain Ramiz Raza admitted that they deliberately laid that docile surface not to be caught off guard to superior Aussie pace attack. But by doing that they also blunted their own attack. With Hasan Ali and Faheem Ashraf back Pakistan also has a formidable pace attack. Karachi wicket would definitely be livelier. Australia possibly would do it right blooding Swepson to pair with Nathan Lyon. But the challenge of Australia would be surviving the new ball burst of Shaheen and Hasan. Faheem is also lethal with his reverse swing, which may into play as the match wears on. Pakistan with two openers Shafique and Imam as well as prolific Azhar having a good look at Australian bowling would be confident. Babar Azam, Fawad Alam and Rizwan would love to contribute. On the other hand Khawaja, Warner, Labuchang and Smith also had useful batting practice. Two Australian celebrities Rod Marsh and Shane Warne expired during the tenure of the first test. World cricket got shocked and rocked.
Anyway world cricket would love to witness mouth watering contest of the two evenly matched sides at Karachi National stadium from today.
BDST: 0952 HRS, MAR 12, 2022
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