Pakistan to take on Australia in T20 encounter today

Pakistan is geared up to face the Australians without their master spinner Saeed Ajmal, who has been omitted from the side following his bowling action was reported illegal.

To another shock, Pakistan all rounder Muhammad Hafeez has also been ruled out of the limited-overs series against Australia due to a hand injury he sustained during a practice game.

According to Reuters, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said Hafeez required five stitches after he split the webbing between the thumb and index finger of his left hand on Friday.

“The physio has suggested a minimum of two weeks rest which rules him out of the one-day series,” a spokesman said. “The tour management committee has decided to send Hafeez back to Pakistan since there was no point in retaining him on the tour.”

The selectors announced that uncapped opener Sami Aslam and left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar will replace Hafeez in the squad for Sunday’s one-off Twenty20 and the subsequent three one-day internationals against Australia in the UAE.

The playing-11 of both the teams which are likely to feature today are;

Pakistan: 1 Ahmed Shahzad, 2 Awais Zia, 3 Umar Amin, 4 Umar Akmal (wk), 5 Shahid Afridi, 6 Sohaib Maqsood, 7 Bilawal Bhatti, 8 Raza Hasan, 9 Sohail Tanvir, 10 Wahab Riaz, 11 Mohammad Irfan.

Australia: 1 Aaron Finch (capt), 2 David Warner, 3 Phillip Hughes, 4 Glenn Maxwell, 5 Steven Smith, 6 Brad Haddin (wk), 7 James Faulkner, 8 Sean Abbott, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Kane Richardson, 11 Cameron Boyce.