Pakistan vs Australia, 3rd T20I, Preview: Hosts aim at nothing less than a clean sweep

After the sheer domination in the first two games, Pakistan will be hoping to repeat what they did earlier in the third T20I as well. The hosts will want to leave no stone unturned and prove to the world they are regarded the number one side in the shortest format. Having won their 10th consecutive T20I series already, the Men in Green will aim at nothing less than a clean sweep.

For Australia, their batting in this series has been a struggle. In both the games they played in this series, their batsmen were at fault. In what could have been easy wins, the Aussie batsmen hardly got any momentum going on their side. For them to make an impact, their top-order will have to roll up their sleeves and escape some embarrassment before they play South Africa next month at home before the all-important India series.

Team Combination

Pakistan

Pakistan is expected to go into this game with an unchanged XI. Fakhar Zaman will open the innings with Babar Azam. Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik will be the batting all-rounders while Sarfraz Ahmed will don the gloves. Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Shadab Khan and Imad Wasim are the other players who can swing the willow. Hasan Ali and Shaheen Shah Afridi will complete the bowling lineup.

They might also look to test their bench strength and the uncapped WaqasMaqsood might get a game. Also, Sahibzada Farhan also comes into the contention with Mohammad Hafeez likely to be rested.

Predicted XI: Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez/Sahibzada Farhan, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Sarfraz Ahmed(c)(wk), Faheem Ashraf, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi/Waqas Maqsood.

Australia

The Aussies also look to be pretty much sorted with their lineup. Skipper Aaron Finch will open the innings with D’Arcy Short. Chris Lynn will bat at three and Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, Mitchell Marsh will be there to follow. Alex Carey will be the man behind the stumps. Nathan Coulter Nile, Andrew Tye, Billy Stanlake and Adam Zampa will be the bowlers.

Predicted XI: Aaron Finch(c), D’Arcy Short, Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey(wk), Nathan Coulter Nile, Andrew Tye, Billy Stanlake, Adam Zampa.

Focus will be on

Imad Wasim (Pakistan)

Imad Wasim has been the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan in this series. Opening the bowling for his side, he has been highly effective. The left-arm spinner hardly got a foot wrong thus far and Pakistan will hope for him to do the same in the last game as well. He picked 3/20 in the first game and followed it up with 1/8 in 4 overs in the next game. The Aussie batsmen will have to be wary of the threat from him and will be hoping to deal him in a better way.

Glenn Maxwell (Australia)

Glenn Maxwell was the lone warrior for Australia in the last game. He battled it out hard and Pakistan just about survived the Maxwell scare. He scored a brisk 52 which came of 37 deliveries and would have played more aggressively had he got enough support from the other end. On his day, he can take the spinners to the cleaners and will be hoping to continue just from where he left off in the previous match.

Broadcast Details:

TV – Sony Six and Sony Six HD

Live Streaming – Sony LIV

Match Timings: 21:30 IST | 20:00 local

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