Pakistan Opts to Field First in Rain-Delayed T20I Opener Against Australia
In a rain-affected first T20I at the Gabba, Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan elected to field first after winning the toss. The match, initially scheduled for a full 20 overs, was reduced to a seven-over contest due to persistent lightning and rain in Brisbane.
Pakistan’s batting-heavy lineup features the return of wicketkeeper-batter Sahibzada Farhan, who replaced left-arm fast bowler Jahandad Khan at the last minute. The pace attack boasts the formidable trio of Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Haris Rauf, while Babar Azam and Rizwan will open the batting.
Australia’s captain, Josh Inglis, echoed Rizwan’s decision to field first. Their top five remains largely unchanged from the ODI series, with Adam Zampa as the specialist spinner and Tim David slotting into the middle order. Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, and Spencer Johnson complete the bowling attack.
The reduced format of the match means that only two bowlers can bowl a maximum of two overs each, while all other bowlers are restricted to one over. The powerplay consists of two overs.
Australia:
1. Jake Fraser-McGurk
2. Matt Short
3. Josh Inglis (capt & wk)
4. Glenn Maxwell
5. Tim David
6. Marcus Stoinis
7. Aaron Hardie
8. Xavier Bartlett
9. Nathan Ellis
10. Adam Zampa
11. Spencer Johnson
Pakistan:
1. Babar Azam
2. Mohammad Rizwan (capt & wk)
3. Sahibzada Farhan
4. Usman Khan
5. Salman Agha
6. Irfan Khan
7. Abbas Afridi
8. Shaheen Shah Afridi
9. Haseebullah Khan
10. Haris Rauf
11. Naseem Shah
