PAK vs AUS, 4th ODI: Fantain Fantasy Cricket Tips – Playing XI and Updates

At one stage, Australia had lost 21 out of 25 ODI fixtures. Things were looking bleak not so long ago. But on their tour of India, pushed against the wall, they achieved a remarkable turn-around. And now, after yet another ODI series win on the road, Australia are taking massive strides en-route to England and the World-Cup.

Pakistan, on the other hand, has lost yet another series. The last time they won a bilateral series against a top-8 ranked team was way back in 2017 against Sri Lanka. Historically too, Australia has enjoyed playing against Pakistan, and the last time Pakistan beat Australia in a bilateral series was way back in 2002. It is, therefore, a bit unsurprising that Australia has had the better of Pakistan in the ongoing series.

Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, UAE.

Team news:

Australia

Ashton Turner, whose heroics sealed the series for Australia against India will in all probability get a game. The Australian management would want to try Kane Richardson too. This will enable them to rotate their pacers and better manage the workload to curb injuries.

Australia’s openers are going berserk and their middle order is finally coming together. What’s more, their finishers Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis are flogging the bowlers with gay abandon. All put together, there’s hardly anything negative to point out in this world-class unit.

Likely Playing XI:

Finch (C), Khawaja, Handscomb, Maxwell, Turner, Stoinis, Carey (WK), Cummins, Zampa, Kane, Behrendroff.

Pakistan

This Pakistani team has tried a host of things in this series and has yet come up miserably short against a rejuvenated Aussie outfit. At the moment, the hosts appear to have no answers against the onslaught that Australia has subjected them to.

Pakistan now has just pride to play for.

Since his return to international cricket, Mohammed Amir has only been a shadow of his promising past. The management will have to take a decision about his role in the team for the World Cup.

Aamir is at the last end of his rope but he might just get another chance to impress the selectors and show them that he still has the skills to skittle the batsmen at this level.

Likely Playing XI:

Masood, Imam, Akmal, Sohail, Malik (C), Rizwan (WK), Wasim, Yasir, Usman, Junaid and Aamir.

Hot Picks

Aaron Finch: He’s averaging 90 since the 3rd ODI against India, and came agonisingly close to becoming the first Aussie cricketer to score 3 ODI centuries on the trot. Pick him in your Fantain Fantasy XI without batting an eyelid

Usman Khawaja: He may have been dismissed for a duck in the last game, and the series might have already have been won, but Khawaja would be putting in the hard strides knowing all too well that a certain David Warner is in promising form elsewhere in India

Glenn Maxwell: He brought up his highest ODI score in over two years as he ripped apart the Pakistan bowling line-up in the slog overs scoring 71 runs in 55 balls. Expect the “big show” to keep his foot on the throttle

Shoaib Malik: Earlier this series, Malik brought up his second international 50 against the Aussies in a career that’s now spanned close to two decades. He would want to better his record and also inspire his team by leading from the front.

Fantain Fantasy XI

This is our Fantain Fantasy XI but you’re the real expert.

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