Pak vs Aus: Usama Mir to be inducted

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan may induct leg-spinner Usama Mir in the playing XI in place of a pacer against Australia on Friday.

Green Shirts are scheduled to play their fourth match of the ongoing ICC Men’s World Cup 2023 against the Kangaroos at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.

“Usama may be there in the playing XI against Australia. The management is expected to rest one of the seamers to accommodate the spinner in the playing XI. However, it all depends on the nature of the wicket. As things stand today, Usama is favourite to make the playing XI,” The News revealed while quoting a well-placed source accompanying the team.

Usama — who was the first player to contract a viral infection ahead of the India match — has recovered fully from fever and participated in training sessions.

“He bowled well at the nets on Wednesday and as things stand at the moment, he may well see him playing the match against Australia,” the source said.

The Bangalore pitch usually is rated as batting-friendly and offers some assistance to spinners.

“It largely depends on the nature of the pitch which will be there on Friday. A typical Bengaluru pitch may well see Usama playing against Australia,” the source confided.

It is important to note that all the players, except Mohammad Haris, who had earlier fallen ill have now recovered from the infection.

Iconic performances and record-breaking feats in Pakistan-Australia cricket encounters

Shaheen Shah Afridi, Abdullah Shafeeque, Saud Shakeel and Zaman Khan were among those who had contracted the infection.

To a question about Fakhar Zaman’s knee status, a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official accompanying the team, said the batter encountered the problem recently.

“He has been carrying a knee issue which sometimes gets aggravated. However, there is nothing serious as he trained at the nets and also participated in other routines.”

Currently, Pakistan stands fourth in the WC points table with four points and an NRR of -0.137 after playing three matches.

The team lost to arch-rivals India in Ahmedabad which dented their run rate.

The first stage of the 10-team tournament is a round-robin format where all teams will play each other once, resulting in 45 matches. The top four teams at the end of the first leg will qualify for the semifinals.

Predictions

Both teams have struggled at the top of the order in their recent matches. Australia have mustered opening partnerships of five, 27 and 24 from their three games to date as David Warner and Mitchell Marsh have failed to thrive together.

Pakistan have had just as many problems and have already opted to drop Fakhar Zaman from their line-up. Despite the change, Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique put on 16 and 41 for the first wicket in their two matches together.

Both teams have quality bowling attacks, so the two sets of openers are going to be in for a tough ride once more.

Shafique scored a century against Sri Lanka, while Imam-ul-Haq averages 69 against Australia, scoring two centuries and two fifties against the Baggy Greens in seven matches.

Warner has struggled for form of late and is nearing the end of his career, while Marsh is not a natural opener having been pressed into duty following an injury to Travis Head.

SQUADS

Both sides have named their 15 man squads for the Cricket World Cup. Here are the details of the players who will line up on Friday:

Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Wasim.

Australia: Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Sean Abbott, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Starc.