Match: Pakistan vs Australia, 2nd Test Date: March 12th-16th, 2022 Time: 10:30 AM IST Venue: National Stadium, Karachi
The historic first Test match between Pakistan and Australia had a very disappointing finish as the match was drawn due to a batting paradise wicket.
The Rawalpindi pitch faced a lot of criticism all over the world and was called a dead wicket by the cricket experts.
The ICC management also took a notice against the Rawalpindi pitch due to the huge criticism and rated it as below average.
After a disappointing draw, both teams have arrived in Karachi for the second match with the hope of a better pitch that will also support the bowlers.
Pakistan is keen to take some benefit from the home soil by winning the second match.
On the other hand, the Australian side is also hoping to gain some crucial WTC points in Karachi.
A quick review of 1st Test match
Pakistan declared their 1st innings after scoring 476-4, Azhar Ali and Imam-Ul-Haq scored big hundreds.
In reply, Australia was bowled out on 459 runs, giving a 17 runs lead to Pakistan.
Nauman Ali picked up 6 wickets while Khawaja and Labuschagne got dismissed in the nervous 90s and missed their well-deserved hundreds.
The Pakistani openers again provided a superb start and both of them scored centuries in the second innings.
The young Abdullah and Imam batted almost the whole day 5 until the match was ended as a draw.
Imam scored back-to-back hundreds while Abdullah Shafique registered his maiden Test ton against the massive Australian attack.
Head to Head record and Match Prediction
A total of 67 matches have been played between the Australian and Pakistani sides.
Australia has won 33 games while Pakistan was able to win only 15 matches.
So, according to records, Australia has an upper hand but on their home soil Pakistan is a very strong team and it will take a lot of hard work from Australia to beat Pakistan in Karachi.
Hence, Pakistan is most likely to win the second match.
Possible Changes in Pakistan’s lineup
Pakistan was forced to make two changes before the 1st Test as both Hasan Ali and Faheem Ashraf were injured but now Hasan Ali has recovered and will probably play the second match.
But unfortunately, Faheem Ashraf has tested positive yesterday so, he not available for the second Test.
It is a big blow for Pakistan as Faheem was been amongst their key player in Test cricket in the last couple of years.
The all-rounder not only gives Pakistan a third seam option but also scores crucial runs in the lower order.
Hasan Ali will most probably be added in Pakistan’s playing 11 in place of Iftikhar Ahmad means the hosts will play 1 batter less and go with 6 specialist batters and 5 specialist bowlers.
Pakistan will again go with Sajid Khan and Nauman Ali as their front-line spinners as Karachi’s wicket will probably support the spinners.
Probable 11
Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam, Fawad Alam, Muhammad Rizwan, Hasan Ali, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah.
