World Cup, Match 18 | Pakistan predicted XI vs Australia

image-lnx742x0Pakistan will be playing against Australia in the 18th match of the World Cup 2023 (Source: AP Photos)

Australia and Pakistan will square off on match 18 of the World Cup 2023. Both teams will be playing in the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium and the play is set to commence from 2:00 PM IST.

Australia initiated the mega-event in an unfavourable way after India and South Africa trounced them on back-to-back matches. However they bounced back against Sri Lanka in their latest game and earned their maiden points. Although they're in the bottom half of the points table, the Kangaroos will look to grab these crucial points against Pakistan.

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On the flip side, the Men in Green initiated the tournament on a positive note with victories over Netherlands and Sri Lanka. They were humiliated in their latest encounter against India where the counterparts had the last laugh in Ahmedabad. Currently, they have four points from three matches and find themselves in the fourth spot.

Several Pakistan players were heard to be suffering from fever. So, how could the Pakistan side look on paper for this upcoming clash against Australia? Let's have a quick look.


Openers: Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq

Pakistan cricket team withstood a massive setback as few of their major players were struck by high fever. However most of the players recovered from it, Abdullah Shafique is yet to be at his hundred percent. But it was learnt that Shafique is recovering rapidly and probably Pakistan will march with him to open the batting along with Imam-ul-Haq.

Imam has been a little off coloured post Asia Cup 2023. He has the elegant left-hander's touch and shall look to get back in form.


Middle-Order: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel

The best positive for Pakistan post India clash was the form of Babar Azam. The skipper touched upon a half-century against arch-rivals and finally found his form with the bat.

Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel constitutes the core of Pakistani middle order. The former is their leading run-getter in the tournament while the latter came good with the willow against New Zealand (warm-up fixture) and Netherlands. Shakeel has scored 180 runs from his last four innings that includes two half-centuries and one thirty-plus score.


All-rounders: Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz and Usama Mir

Iftikhar Ahmed is more like the finisher of the side along with Mohammad Nawaz. But their role does not just end with the willow in hand. Nawaz is a pure all-rounder while Iftikhar's part-time finger spin comes handy to the Pakistan side.

Shadab Khan has withstood a dent in his recent form. Be it with the bat or be it with the ball in hand, Shadab has let down the team and therefore may get replaced by Usama Mir. The leggie bagged four wickets from two matches during the warm-up matches of the World Cup. Pakistan management are in quest of control in the middle overs when it comes to bowling and this is a change that looms around the corner.


Bowlers: Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali and Haris Rauf

Pakistan have a set pace attack after the absence of Naseem Shah who was ruled out due to injury.

Shaheen Afridi has recovered well from the fever and is fit to lead the pace attack. He will be joined by Hasan Ali with the new ball while Haris Rauf will be in charge of the bowling attack during the second and third powerplay. The Pakistan pacers have lacked lustre in recent times but they would look to come back hard this time around.


Pakistan Predicted XI vs Australia

Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, and Haris Rauf.