Pakistan’s think-tank stuck with the same formula in Lahore, winning the toss and sending Australia in on a surface that already looks tired and likely to turn. They lead the three-match series 1-0 and, if all goes to plan, could wrap things up today at the Gaddafi Stadium.
Key selections
• Pakistan unchanged: four spinners (Shadab Khan, Arafat Minhas, Salman Ali Agha, Abrar Ahmed) and just the two quicks, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf.
• Australia swap pace for spin, Adam Zampa coming in for Billy Stanlake after sitting out the opening match with a stiff neck.
Why the chase?
Afridi admitted before the game that ground staff had produced another turning wicket with home advantage firmly in mind. The captain wants his slower bowlers operating under lights when, historically, the ball grips that bit more here.
At the toss
Australia’s stand-in skipper Josh Inglis tried to play it down: “It’s [spinning pitches] not hogging our minds,” he said. “We have got to learn on the go and adapt quickly according to these conditions.” Bold words, though Saturday’s 200 all out in Rawalpindi suggests the learning curve is steep.
Background
Mike Hesson, Pakistan’s head coach, continues to defend the policy. He believes spin will be a decisive factor at the 2027 World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, so sees no harm in sharpening those skills now.
For Australia, already one down and chasing their third straight bilateral series loss to Pakistan, the task is as much mental as technical. They do bat deep—Cameron Green at five and Marnus Labuschagne one spot below gives them experience—but how quickly that middle order copes with Minhas and Abrar could decide the afternoon.
Teams
Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Maaz Sadaqat, Babar Azam, Ghazi Ghori (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Abdul Samad, Shadab Khan, Arafat Minhas, Shaheen Shah Afridi (capt), Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed
Australia: Matt Short, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis (capt), Matt Renshaw, Cameron Green, Marnus Labuschagne, Oliver Peake, Nathan Ellis, Matt Kuhnemann, Adam Zampa, Tanveer Sangha
Outlook
Weather is set fair, mid-thirties and dry; dew should arrive late, another nudge towards bowling first. If Pakistan’s spinners again dictate, the series may be over before Australia can properly adjust. Still, Zampa’s return offers them wicket-taking nous through the middle overs, and one tidy spell could yet take this contest the distance.
