MELBOURNE, Australia: As Pakistan prepares to take on Australia in the first ODI of a three-match series, Mohammad Rizwan will lead the national side for the first time as white-ball captain, taking over from Babar Azam.
The opener will take place on Monday at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), and Pakistan aims to build on their recent success in the Test series against England.
Following Gary Kirsten’s departure, Jason Gillespie has stepped in as the team’s interim white-ball coach for this series. Salman Ali Agha, appointed vice-captain, joins Rizwan in leading a lineup geared toward both experience and rising talent. Pakistan’s playing XI includes seasoned players like Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf, complemented by promising young stars such as Saim Ayub and Kamran Ghulam.
Ahead of the match, vice-captain Agha remarked on the team’s motivation to succeed in Australia, noting that Pakistan’s strategy has been carefully crafted to tackle the unique challenges posed by Australian conditions. “The color of the kit may have changed,” he commented, “but the bat and ball remain the same. We’re focusing on delivering our best with simplicity.”
Following this ODI series, Pakistan and Australia will compete in a three-match T20I series from November 14 to 18.
Pakistan’s Playing XI: Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (captain/wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain.
