Sydney, November 16, 2024 – Australia won the toss and elected to bat first in the second T20I of the three-match series against Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Saturday.
Pakistan, trailing 1-0 in the series, made one change to their lineup, bringing in left-arm spinner Sufiyan Muqeem in place of Haseebullah Khan. Australia, confident after their victory in the rain-affected opener, retained their winning combination.
Playing XIs
Pakistan: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (c/wk), Sahibzada Farhan, Usman Khan, Salman Agha, Irfan Khan, Abbas Afridi, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Sufiyan Muqeem.
Australia: Jake Fraser-McGurk, Matt Short, Josh Inglis (c/wk), Glenn Maxwell, Tim David, Marcus Stoinis, Aaron Hardie, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson.
Head-to-Head Stats
The two teams have faced each other 26 times in T20Is, with Pakistan narrowly leading the rivalry. The Green Shirts have won 13 matches, while Australia has claimed 12 victories, with one encounter ending in no result.
Pakistan’s Road to Redemption
Pakistan’s return to T20 cricket after their dismal ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 campaign has been less than ideal. In the rain-shortened series opener on Thursday, Pakistan fell to a 29-run defeat. Glenn Maxwell played a pivotal role for Australia, smashing a blistering 43 off 19 balls to set up a challenging total of 93/4 in just seven overs.
Chasing 94, Pakistan’s batting lineup struggled under pressure, managing only 64/9 in their seven overs. The defeat exposed weaknesses in both batting and bowling departments, raising questions about their preparedness.
With the series on the line, Pakistan will look to bounce back by leveraging their experienced players like Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi while hoping that young talents like Sufiyan Muqeem can make an impact.
Australia’s Momentum
Australia enters the match with confidence, driven by strong performances from their key players. Glenn Maxwell’s explosive form and the team’s depth in batting and bowling make them favorites to seal the series.
The second T20I presents Pakistan with a chance to redeem themselves and level the series, while Australia aims to clinch the series with a game to spare. With favorable conditions at the SCG and both teams eyeing victory, fans can expect an exciting contest.
