PAK vs AUS 2026, PAK vs AUS 2nd ODI Match Preview

Big picture: Pakistan chase series win, Australia try to combat spin

The first ODI followed a familiar pattern for Australia in white-ball cricket in Pakistan, with their batters left completely befuddled by spin on a low, slow surface. In Rawalpindi, it was the left-arm orthodox spin of Arafat Minhas who bamboozled four of their top five and some of their most experienced players in a stunning debut.

For Pakistan, there is a question to be answered. Does chasing a confidence boosting series win override trying to prepare for a World Cup in southern Africa in 16 months time? If the former is more important, then another spin-friendly surface would be expected. But if the latter is of greater value, then playing on a neutral batter-friendly surface with as much pace and bounce that can be mustered might provide more benefit long-term.

Australia were well aware that the series would not have a great deal of relevance to the World Cup. They knew they would be challenged by spin in the manner that they were in Rawalpindi. The concern is that they still failed the test despite seeing the questions before-hand.

They are trying to invest games into a younger group with some senior names absent. The long-term goal is to develop the next crop of world-class players who can problem-solve in all conditions.

The performances of Matt Short, Matt Renshaw, Matt Kuhnemann and Tanveer Sangha in Rawalpindi were all positives. The returns of Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green would be concerns. They are supposed to be the fulcrums of Australia’s batting in Test and ODI cricket as the team transitions and yet neither can settle their own position within the XI at the moment heading towards the World Cup.

Australia will likely rotate their XI again. Allrounder Liam Scott will almost certainly get a chance in one of the last two games. Cooper Connolly is technically available, having arrived from Australia on Saturday but whether they risk him coming off a long flight after only three days of acclimatisation remains to be seen. Riley Meredith might also get a chance.

Form guide

Pakistan WLWLW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Australia LLWWW

In the spotlight: Shadab Khan and Marnus Labuschagne

Shadab Khan’s return to ODI cricket after nearly three years out of the side did not go well. On a surface where Pakistan spinners took eight wickets, Shadab conceded 54 from eight overs with just 14 dot balls and hardly troubled Australia’s batters. He also did not bat in the top seven. Given the performance of Minhas on debut with bat and ball, the fact Abrar Ahmed is the first-choice legspinner and Salman Agha provides the balance of good part-time offspin with his batting prowess, Shadab’s role in the side heading to a World Cup in non-spinning conditions will be heavily debated unless he can re-establish his place with some strong all-round performances.

Marnus Labuschagne’s second-ball duck in Rawalpindi means he has extended his streak without an ODI half-century to 11 innings over 14 games, dating back to September 2024. In that time he has averaged just 12.54 and struck at 74.19, including six single-figure scores and just two scores over 20. He has teetered on the edge of Australia’s first-choice side in that time and has found it hard to bed down a role having been shifted from No. 5 to No. 3 and now to No. 4. He has, in a way, been designated as the replacement for Steven Smith – a firewall for the powerplay against the relatively new balls in case of early losses. It was a role he played perfectly in the 2023 ODI World Cup final. But if he is adding to the collapses rather than helping prevent them, he may find himself out of Australia’s 2027 ODI World Cup squad altogether.

Team news: Changes likely for Australia

Pakistan might consider a change if conditions do not look as spin-friendly in Lahore with Naseem Shah an option to replace Shadab. Otherwise if the surface appears similar then there would be no reason to change a winning formula. Ahmed Daniyal is another option, or wristspinner Sufyan Moqim if they wanted to change things but maintain the same balance.

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

Australia will likely make several changes as they continue to use the tour for research and development. Scott will almost certainly get a chance. Whether it is for Peake, Green or Labuschagne remains to be seen. Connolly could also come into the mix if they wish to make two top-order changes but he would appear more likely to be held back until game three. Meredith could replace Billy Stanlake to ensure the injury-prone quick isn’t at risk on a three-day turnaround with a flight in between. Adam Zampa was a late withdrawal from game one with a neck issue that has troubled him in the past. Sangha bowled well as his replacement but it is unlikely Australia picks three specialist spinners if Zampa is fit.

Australia (probable): 1 Matt Short, 2 Alex Carey, 3 Josh Inglis (capt & wk), 4 Marnus Labuschagne, 5 Cameron Green, 6 Matt Renshaw, 7 Oli Peake/Liam Scott, 8 Nathan Ellis, 9 Matt Kuhnemann, 10 Adam Zampa/Tanveer Sangha, 11 Riley Meredith/Billy Stanlake

Pitch and conditions: Runs expected

It will be brutally hot in Lahore on Tuesday with the temperature rising to 38 degrees. There was hardly any dew in Rawalpindi but more might be expected in Lahore given the humidity. Scores should be high given the history at the venue.

Stats and trivia:

There have been 13 scores over 300 in 12 ODIs in Lahore since the start of 2022, with five scores over 348.
Teams batting first have actually won six games of 11 at Gadaffi Stadium since the start of 2022.
The last five teams to win the toss in ODIs in Lahore have won the match.

Quotes

“That’s just the nature of travelling around the world – [when] we come to the subcontinent as Australians, we know we’re going to get more wickets favouring spin … and we’ve prepared as well as we can for that.”
Matt Renshaw on conditions

Alex Malcolm is an associate editor at ESPNcricinfo

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