RAWALPINDI: Pakistan won the toss and elected to field first against Australia in the opening match of a three-match One-Day International series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi said the occasion was particularly significant as Pakistan was playing its 1,000th ODI, becoming one of the few teams to reach the milestone in international cricket.
“It is an honor to captain Pakistan in its 1,000th ODI,” Afridi said at the toss. “It is a historic moment for the entire team, and we will try to deliver a strong performance and secure a victory.”
Pakistan handed an ODI debut to Arafat Minhas, one of several young players included in the lineup.
Pakistan Playing XI:
Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Sahibzada Farhan, Moaz Sadaqat, Babar Azam, Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Salman Ali Agha, Abdul Samad, Shadab Khan, Arafat Minhas, Haris Rauf and Abrar Ahmed.
The match marks the beginning of a three-game ODI series between Pakistan and Australia, with the hosts aiming to celebrate their milestone appearance with a victory.
