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| Australia vs Pakistan CWC 2023 |
In the 18th match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, Australia will take on Pakistan at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on October 19. Australia, a five-time World Cup champion, has played three matches in the tournament, with two losses and one win. Pakistan, on the other hand, has won two of their three matches but suffered a demoralizing loss to host India in their previous World Cup match in Ahmedabad. This fixture is crucial for Babar Azam's Pakistan as they seek to revive their World Cup campaign with a victory over the strong Australian team.
Some Pakistan players, including Shaheen Shah Afridi, Saud Shakeel, Abdullah Shafique, and Zaman Khan, are reportedly dealing with the flu. Additionally, there are concerns about Shaheen Afridi's finger injury, which may affect his availability for today's match. It's likely that Pakistan will rest Shaheen Afridi to prioritize his health in the early stages of the tournament, and Mohammad Wasim Jr. may replace him. Usman Mir, a specialist spinner, could step in for Shadab Khan, who has not performed up to expectations. Agha Salman is also a potential replacement for Shadab in Pakistan's playing XI against Australia.
Australia has finally found its rhythm this year after their first win against Sri Lanka. The resurgence of wrist spinner Adam Zampa is a significant advantage for the team. Josh Inglis, who scored 58 in the last match, will retain his place as the preferred wicketkeeper over Alex Carey.
On the other hand, Pakistan faced a heavy defeat against India despite winning their first two games against the Netherlands and Sri Lanka. Opener Abdullah Shafique, who was quarantined for contracting a viral infection, is fit to play. However, all-rounder Salman Agha, who also contracted the infection, will not be available for selection. Benched opener Fakhar Zaman is sidelined due to a knee injury.
As for predicting the winner of today's Australia-Pakistan match, it promises to be a high-scoring contest, and it's challenging to pick a clear winner. The team that capitalizes on the initial ten overs on the batting-friendly pitch in Bangalore will likely gain an advantage. Australia appears better equipped with aggressive opening batters like David Warner and Mitchell Marsh. Additionally, their pace bowling lineup seems more well-rounded compared to Pakistan's. Moreover, players like Maxwell have gained valuable experience playing on the Chinnaswamy surface during the IPL.
Team Squad:
Predicted Playing XI for Australia:
- Mitchell Marsh
- David Warner
- Steve Smith
- Marnus Labuschagne
- Josh Inglis (wk)
- Glenn Maxwell
- Marcus Stoinis
- Mitchell Starc
- Pat Cummins (c)
- Adam Zampa
- Josh Hazlewood
Predicted Playing XI for Pakistan:
- Fakhar Zaman
- Imam ul Haq
- Babar Azam (captain)
- Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper)
- Salman Ali Aga
- Iftikhar Ahmed
- Mohammad Wasim Jr.
- Haris Rauf
- Shaheen Afridi (or Mohammad Wasim Jr.)
- Hasan Ali
- Mohammad Nawaz
Match Details
Fixture: Australia vs Pakistan
Date: October 20, 2:00 pm
Location: Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
Head-to-Head
These two teams have clashed ten times in ICC World Cup history. Australia holds the upper hand with six victories, while Pakistan has claimed four wins.
Pitch Report
The pitch is expected to favor the batsmen, promising a high-scoring game where the ball should come onto the bat nicely. The team winning the toss may opt to bowl first.
Weather Update
Bengaluru is likely to experience temperatures around 31°C. Rain is not expected for tomorrow's game, but the humidity will be relatively high at around 48%.
Where to Watch
Fans can catch the action on Disney+Hotstar for digital viewing. For television viewers, the game will be broadcast on Star Sports 1 & 2.