Pakistan playing XI vs Australia: Babar Azam and Co. haven’t put a foot wrong in their campaign so far as Pakistan were the first team to book their place in the T20 World Cup semi-final. The Men in Green are the only unbeaten team in the knockouts as they romped to wins in all five games, including the one against arch-rivals India. Throughout the tournament, Babar Azam has refrained from making any changes, sticking and trusting his XI men, and it is likely to be the case when they face Australia on Thursday. Follow all Pakistan Playing XI vs Australia and PAK vs AUS LIVE updated on Insidesport.in.
“We’ll have to put runs on the board and then defend it. It’s an honour to lead this bunch of players, looking forward to playing some good cricket. UAE is our backyard, we know these conditions well. No changes for us,” Azam said at the toss.
Pakistan Playing XI vs Australia: Babar Azam sticks with same team, Hasan Ali, Fakhar Zaman to play despite poor form – Follow LIVE Updates
PAK vs AUS LIVE: Pakistan have been unbeaten in the T20 World Cup so far romping to wins in all five of their group stage games in the UAE. Babar Azam has impressed one and all with his leadership skills and the Men in Green have stuck with the same XI that featured in the opener against India. Now heading into the semi-finals, Azam is keen on keeping the same combination that has yielded success despite a couple of misfiring stars in the line-up. Fakhar Zaman and Hasan Ali have failed to make much impact in the tournament, but their failures have been well hidden by the impressive performances of the players around them.
With such a big game against Australia, Pakistan will unlikely make any changes with Babar Azam giving his full backing to the under-fire stars before the game. The Pakistan captain said that one cannot expect 11 players to perform every game and the thought of dropping either Zaman or Ali has never crossed his mind.
“Two batters perform in a game. Every player can’t perform in one match. The way Fakhar is playing, he has been given all the confidence. On his day he can change the game on his own and I have full confidence he will do it in the coming games,” said Azam in a virtual press conference before the T20 World Cup semi-final against Australia.
The Pakistan captain added, “I can’t think of leaving him (Hasan Ali) out. He is my main bowler. He has won us matches, won us tournaments. Ups and downs are part of anyone’s career and when you are little down you must back your key player and the whole team is behind him. He is mentally very strong and I believe he is a big match player and will deliver in semifinals.”
To his relief, Shoaib Malik scored the fastest fifty by a Pakistan batsman in T20 World Cups in the last game, while Mohammad Hafeez has chipped in with cameos throughout the tournament. Azam and Mohammad Rizwan continue to reign supreme at the top of the order, while Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf have taken the competition by storm with their express pace.
Probable Pakistan playing XI vs Australia: Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Babar Azam (c), Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi
Pakistan Playing XI vs Australia: Babar Azam sticks with same team, Hasan Ali, Fakhar Zaman to play despite poor form – Follow LIVE Updates
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