RAWALPINDI: Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi won the toss and elected to bowl first against Australia in the opening match of the three-match One Day International (ODI) series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
The series opener marks the latest chapter in the long-standing rivalry between the two former world champions, with Pakistan seeking to build on their recent ODI success against the Australians.
Despite Pakistan’s recent success, Australia hold a commanding advantage in the overall ODI head-to-head record. The two teams have met 111 times in the format, with Australia winning 71 matches compared to Pakistan’s 36 victories. Three matches ended without a result, while one encounter was tied.
Both teams come into the series with similar recent form, having won three of their last five completed ODIs.
Pakistan’s most recent ODI assignment came against Bangladesh in March, where they suffered a 2-1 series defeat. Australia, meanwhile, return to ODI cricket after a seven-month gap, having defeated India 2-1 in a home series in October 2025.
Pakistan have fielded a squad featuring experienced campaigners such as Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan and captain Shaheen Afridi. Australia are being led by wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis and include key players such as Marnus Labuschagne, Adam Zampa, Alex Carey and Cameron Green.
With a packed crowd in Rawalpindi and both sides eager to make a strong start, fans can expect a fiercely contested opening match in the three-game series.
