Green-top pitch prepared for second Pakistan-Australia ODI

The second ODI of the three-match series between Pakistan and Australia will take place at the Adelaide Oval on Friday. The pitch is expected to be a green-top, which typically favors pacers with the new ball, offering early seam movement and uneven bounce. Batters may find conditions easier after the initial challenging phase, and there could also be some turn for the spinners.

So far, the Adelaide Oval has hosted 86 ODIs, with the team batting first winning 46 times, while the team chasing has won 38 times. Pakistan, trailing 1-0 in the series, has a poor record at this venue, having won only one of their eight matches. Their only victory came in 1996 under Wasim Akram’s captaincy when Saqlain Mushtaq took five wickets to help Pakistan defeat Australia by 12 runs.

Pakistan is considering adding a regular spinner to their lineup for this match. The squad includes two regular spinners, Arafat Minhas and Faisal Akram. If a spinner is included, either Naseem Shah or Mohammad Hasnain may be rested. Naseem Shah, who struggled with cramps in the first ODI, has recovered and is available, but may be given a break to make room for the spinner.

Here are the squads for both teams:

Pakistan’s Squad: Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Australia’s Squad: Pat Cummins (c), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Lance Morris, Josh Philippe, Matthew Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.