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.
More read, Pakistan to play 1,000th ODI in upcoming series against Australia
Earlier, Pakistan are set to reach a major milestone as they will play their 1,000th One-Day International (ODI) during the three-match series against Australia starting Saturday in Rawalpindi.
The ODI series between Pakistan and Australia will begin at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, while the second and third matches will be held at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.
The milestone match will mark Pakistan’s 1,000th ODI appearance, a landmark moment in the country’s cricket history. Pakistan captain described the achievement as a special occasion for the team.
He said the side’s confidence is high following success in previous ODI series against Australia, adding that crowd support in Rawalpindi and Lahore always boosts player morale.
