Pakistan vs Australia, 3rd ODI: Fantain Fantasy cricket tips - Playing XI, Pitch report, Team combination

A month ago, this Australian unit was in the doldrums. Their chips were down, they appeared clueless and they were desperately awaiting the returning of David Warner and Steven Smith. Cut to the present and it almost feels as if that very struggling Aussie unit has now found its mojo back. Their batting demons appear to have been banished and Aaron Finch has found his midas touch back again.

For Pakistan, time is quickly running out and their inability to rotate strike in the middle overs and finish the game with a flurry is costing them dearly as they are now down 0-2 in the series.

Venue: Sheik Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi.

Team news:

Australia

The unfortunate Jhye Richardson will miss the remainder of Australia’s ODI series against Pakistan after suffering a dislocated right shoulder.

The new fast bowling sensation landed awkwardly whilst fielding in the second ODI and will fly back home to commence rehabilitation with the World Cup just round the corner. Jason Behrendorff would in all probability be the like-for-like replacement for Jhye Richardson.

The Australian unit will be wary of the fact that going 2-0 up in the series doesn’t give any surety to clinch a series. Having overturned a two-nothing deficit against the Indians, the Aussies know all too well that comebacks are a common phenomenon in sport.

Likely Playing XI: 

Usman Khawaja, Aaron Finch (c), Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey (wk), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Jason Behrendroff, Nathan Lyon, Adam Zampa.

Pakistan

Pakistan is missing key players like Mohammed Hafeez, Fakar Zaman and their captain Sarfraz Ahmed. That said, they have yet retained the crux of their side and a better performance is expected from this Pakistani outfit.

A couple of positions in the team are up for grabs and it will be interesting to see if the players raise their performance bar in this 3rd ODI.

Faheem Ashraf will be rested for the remainder of the series as the Pakistani management want the batting all-rounder to be fresh and ready for the World Cup.

Likely Playing XI:

Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood, Haris Sohail, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik (c), Abid Ali, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Yasir Shah, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Hasnain. 

Hot picks

Aaron Finch: Not only did he notch up his career best (155*), the Aussie captain has now posted scores in excess of 90 three times in the last 5 innings. Another bonus was the fact that Finch completed his quota of 10 overs for the first time in an ODI and also picked the vital wicket of Haris Sohail in the previous ODI.

Usman Khawaja: the southpaw can’t put a foot wrong these days. After a lackluster Test series against India, Khawaja has completely turned things around. He was the Man-of-the-Series against India in the recently concluded ODI tour and he has now made 2 centuries and 3 fifties in the last seven games.

Umar Akmal: a surprise pick you’d think but Umar Akmal has stormed his way back into this Pakistan team on the back of an immensely successful domestic season. It will be interesting to see if Umar Akmal can translate his domestic form into a performance of substance on the international stage.

Mohamed Rizwan: while this may sound like a clichéd selection, Rizwan has been highly rated in the inner circles of Pakistan cricket. Despite being handed the role of a finisher, Rizwan played out of position up until the last ODI. Let’s see if Rizwan lives up to the hype or loses his steam.

Fantain Fantasy XI

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