Pakistan and Australia are set to lock horns in the second T20I of the three-match series in Dubai on Friday. In the series opener on Wednesday, the home side had a near perfect game as they registered an impressive 66-run win to go 1-0 up in the series. On Friday, the Men in Green will be hoping to put up a similar kind of performance and seal the series.
In the batting department, the team will be relying heavily on in-form Babar Azam and Mohammad Hafeez to do bulk of the scoring, with a chance that veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik might be back in the side, likely at the expense of out-of-form Asif Ali. In the bowling department, the home side will be relying on spin-duo of Imad Wasim and Shadab Khan to do bulk of the damage.
On other hand, Australia will be desperate to turn things around as this is their last chance to stay alive in the series. In the batting department, the team will be relying on captain Aaron Finch, Glenn Maxwell and Chris Lynn to do bulk of the scoring, whereas in the bowling department, the onus will be on the pace bowlers to do most of the damage just like they did in the first T20I.
Dubai International Cricket Stadium is famous for its 'Ring of Fire' lights. Located in the outskirts of Dubai, the venue has proved itself to be an ideal one for T20I cricket. So far, the venue has hosted 41
Pakistan and Australia are set to lock horns in the second T20I of the three-match series in Dubai on Friday. In the series opener on Wednesday, the home side had a near perfect game as they registered an impressive 66-run win to go 1-0 up in the series. On Friday, the Men in Green will be hoping to put up a similar kind of performance and seal the series.
In the batting department, the team will be relying heavily on in-form Babar Azam and Mohammad Hafeez to do bulk of the scoring, with a chance that veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik might be back in the side, likely at the expense of out-of-form Asif Ali. In the bowling department, the home side will be relying on spin-duo of Imad Wasim and Shadab Khan to do bulk of the damage.
On other hand, Australia will be desperate to turn things around as this is their last chance to stay alive in the series. In the batting department, the team will be relying on captain Aaron Finch, Glenn Maxwell and Chris Lynn to do bulk of the scoring, whereas in the bowling department, the onus will be on the pace bowlers to do most of the damage just like they did in the first T20I.
Dubai International Cricket Stadium is famous for its 'Ring of Fire' lights. Located in the outskirts of Dubai, the venue has proved itself to be an ideal one for T20I cricket. So far, the venue has hosted 41 T20 internationals since May 2009, where the highest score of 211-3 was registered by Sri Lanka in the match against Pakistan in 2013-14. Pakistan and Australia have clashed five times at the venue in the T20 format, where the Green Caps won thrice, whereas Australia emerged victorious twice.
Key players
Imad Wasim – 8.5 Cr
First in the list of key players features Pakistan all-rounder Imad Wasim. The 29-year-old had a great day with the ball in the first T20I where he was named the player of the match after claiming figures of three for 20. Valued at 8.5 Cr, Imad can prove to be an excellent acquisition, especially considering his record at the venue where he holds the best figures in a T20I game of 5-14, which he registered in the match against West Indies in 2016-17.
Babar Azam – 9.5 Cr
Second in the list of key players features Pakistan top-order batsman Babar Azam. The right-hander had a brilliant outing with the bat in the first T20I, where he finished the day as the leading run scorer. Valued at 9.5 Cr, Azam can prove to be a valuable purchase as, while he won't score runs at a strike-rate of 150 plus, he will get you important runs, which can prove to be the difference in the end.
Shoaib Malik – 10 Cr
Third in the list features Pakistan veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik. The 36-year-old is the mainstay in Pakistan's middle-order batting for quite some time now and will be eager to show his true colours for the Men in Green on Friday. Valued at 10 Cr, Malik is a mixture of class, experience and elegance and can prove to be an excellent acquisition (if he plays). However, Malik's average in T20Is while playing in Dubai is just 19 in 13 innings.
