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Pakistan bowl; Australia bring in Zampa for Stanlake

Ali Naseer · 02/06/2026 · 2 min read

Pakistan Opt to Bowl First in Second ODI

Pakistan won the toss and decided to bowl first against Australia in the second ODI at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. This was the second time in this series that Pakistan were chasing and their decision was influenced by yet another spin-friendly pitch, which captain Shaheen Shah Afridi said had been especially curated so the hosts could dominate Australia.

Australia Reinforce Spin Bowling Stocks

There was no change in Pakistan’s XI, which meant that they were fielding four spinners and only two fast bowlers. Australia reinforced their spin bowling stocks by replacing Billy Stanlake with Adam Zampa, who was forced to pull out of the first ODI in Rawalpindi because of neck spasm.

“It’s [spinning pitches] not hogging our minds,” Australia captain Josh Inglis said at the toss. His team was bowled out for 200 in 44.1 overs on Saturday. “We have got to learn on the go and adapt quickly according to these conditions.”

Pakistan Defend Decision to Roll Out Turning Pitches

Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson, on Monday, defended Pakistan’s decision of rolling out turning pitches, arguing spin will have a role to play in the 2027 World Cup, which will be spread across South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.

Trailing 0-1 in the three-match rubber, Australia are staring at their third consecutive ODI series defeat to Pakistan.

Team Lineups

Pakistan: 1 Sahibzada Farhan, 2 Maaz Sadaqat, 3 Babar Azam, 4 Ghazi Ghori (wk), 5 Salman Ali Agha, 6 Abdul Samad, 7 Shadab Khan, 8 Arafat Minhas, 9 Shaheen Shah Afridi (capt), 10 Haris Rauf, 11 Abrar Ahmed

READ: Patidar: Mindset is the same as last year's final ahead of IPL 2026

Australia: 1 Matt Short, 2 Alex Carey, 3 Josh Inglis, 4 Matt Renshaw, 5 Cameron Green, 6 Marnus Labuschagne, 7 Oliver Peake, 8 Nathan Ellis, 9 Matt Kuhnemann, 10 Adam Zampa, 11 Tanveer Sangha

Ali Naseer

Ali Naseer is a senior sports correspondent for The News International, known for his authoritative coverage of Pakistan cricket and his razor‑sharp technical analysis. A graduate of the University of Karachi, he began his career documenting club cricket in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Northern Areas, bringing to light the raw fast‑bowling talent that has become Pakistan’s hallmark. Ali’s work now spans global ICC tournaments and every edition of the Pakistan Super League, where he is a familiar face in the press box. He combines an intimate knowledge of the domestic structure with an ability to break down high‑pressure match situations for a national readership. His columns on the art of reverse swing and the history of Pakistani pace bowlers have become essential reading for fans. Twice honoured by the APNS and his own paper, Ali remains dedicated to telling the stories of the players and places that keep Pakistan cricket alive.