Best fantasy picks for Australia vs Pakistan match in Melbourne – India TV

It’s something of a mix of continuity and change for Pakistan, who begin the Mohammad Rizwan era of white-ball cricket with arguably the toughest tour in the world, in Australia. The regulars return to Australia with skipper Pat Cummins back in the hot seat after missing the tour of England. The likes of Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Steve Smith will be in attendance as the Australian players look to get some game time in their bodies ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Australia will be without star duo Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head, who have been granted appropriate paternity leave. Pakistan’s star trio of Babar Azam, Naseem Shah and Shaheen Afridi returned after missing most of the England Test series but did not include the likes of Iftikhar Ahmed and Shadab Khan in the squad. Whether Pakistan pull away from them or not, these three ODIs will make the picture clearer. This will be a huge test for Rizwan and vice-captain Agha Salman as Australia will definitely start as favourites.

This will be another opportunity for Australia to find a first partner for Travis Head. Both Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matt Short will take the top spot in all three matches, followed by Smith, Labuschagne and Maxwell. This is a daunting batting order and the middle order wickets will be key for Pakistan if they have to challenge this Australian team.

My Dream11 team at AUS vs PAK 1st ODI match

Kamran Ghulam, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan, Matt Short, Steve Smith (VC), Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis, Haris Rauf, Adam Zampa, Pat Cummins, Naseem Shah

Likely playing lineups

Australia: Jake Fraser-McGurk, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis, Aaron Hardy, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins (c)

Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafiq, Kamran Ghulam, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (w/w), Agha Salman, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Arafat Minhas, Aamir Jamal, Haris Rauf