With 132 points, Pakistan stands atop in ICC T20I Rankings at the moment but it may lose the distinguished spot if unable to seal a single victory in three-match T20 series against Australia in UAE, beginning on Wednesday (PTV Sports Live).
First T20 International will be on PTV Sports Live from 9:00 pm
The first T20I between Pakistan and Australia will begin at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi at 09:00 pm PST.
Pakistan will face Australia today in first T-20 international of 3-match series in Abu Dhabi. PTV Sports will telecast the match live from 9:00 pm.#PAKvAUS pic.twitter.com/w3fzUcTKLO
— PTV Sports (@PTVSp0rts) October 24, 2018
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Even a sole win will help Pakistan retain the top position but if Australia manages to register a whitewash, it may rise to top.
Australia is currently at third spot with 123 Points, just one point less than second-ranked India. If Australia ends the series 2-1, it will replace India for the second position.
However having lost a recent Test series against Pakistan, whose T20I record since 2016 has been exceptional, Australia will need to think and perform out of the box to dominate Pakistan.
Since September 2016, Pakistan hasn’t lost any T20 series. During this period, Pakistan played 27 T20Is and emerged victorious in 23. None of four loses occurred in UAE.
In addition, T20 is the only format in which Pakistan has tasted more victories over Australia than vice versa. Out of 17 T20Is between them so far, Pakistan won nine and lost seven.
The experienced Shoaib Malik will miss the first T20I while Imad Wasim, who has been out of the team for injury issues, will again be seen in action.
Pakistan Playing XI Squad for first T20I:
Mohammad Hafeez, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Hussain Talat, Asif Ali, Sarfraz Ahmed (Captain & Wicket Keeper), Faheem Ashraf, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi
Australia Playing XI Squad for first T20I: (Possible):
Aaron Finch (Captain), D’Arcy Short, Chris Lynn, Mitchell Marsh/Ben McDermott, Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey (Wicket Keeper), Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Billy Stanlake
The second and third T20Is between the two teams will be held at Dubai on October 26 and 28.
