It is a sort of mix of continuity and change for Pakistan as they begin the Mohammad Rizwan era in white-ball cricket with probably the toughest tour in the world, Australia. Australia have their regulars return with skipper Pat Cummins back in the hot seat after missing the England tour. The likes of Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Steve Smith all will be on show as Australian players look to get some match time in their bodies before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Australia will be without their star duo of Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head, who have been granted respective paternity leave. For Pakistan, the star trio of Babar Azam, Naseem Shah and Shaheen Afridi have returned after missing most of the England Test series but have left out the likes of Iftikhar Ahmed and Shadab Khan. If Pakistan have moved on from them or not, these three ODIs will make the picture a bit clearer. It will be a huge test for Rizwan and vice-captain Agha Salman as Australia start as favourites definitely.
For Australia, it will be another opportunity to find the opening partner for Travis Head. Both Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matt Short will get all three matches at the top with Smith, Labuschagne and Maxwell to follow. It is a scary batting order and middle-over wickets will be key for Pakistan if they have to challenge this Aussie side.
My Dream11 team for AUS vs PAK 1st ODI
Kamran Ghulam, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan, Matt Short, Steve Smith (vc), Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis, Haris Rauf, Adam Zampa, Pat Cummins, Naseem Shah
Probable Playing XIs
Australia: Jake Fraser-McGurk, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis, Aaron Hardie, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins (c)
Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Kamran Ghulam, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (c/wk), Agha Salman, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Arafat Minhas, Aamir Jamal, Haris Rauf
