KARACHI: Australian captain Pat Cummins won the toss and decided to bat against Pakistan in the second Test in Karachi on Saturday.
The visitors dropped fast pitcher Josh Hazlewood from the first test lineup and gave leg spinner Mitchell Swepson a debut to bolster their spinning attack.
Pakistan brought back frontline pacemaker Hasan Ali and all-rounder Faheem Ashraf, who missed the first Test due to injuries, replacing Iftikhar Ahmed and Naseem Shah.
The first test ended in a meek draw in Rawalpindi on Tuesday.
Australia is on its first tour of Pakistan since 1998, having previously refused to visit due to safety concerns.
Speaking after the draw, Pakistan captain Babar Azam said that they had made two changes to the team. “It’s a typical Karachi pitch, later it will help the spinners,” he said.
While Australian captain Pat Cummins, who experienced dead wickets in the Rawalpindi test, said the Karachi field apparently looks better, adding that they would try to set a huge target for the home team in the test.
The third and final test is in Lahore from March 21-25.
Equipment:
Pakistan: Babar Azam (Captain), Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Nauman Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sajid Khan
Australia: Pat Cummins (captain), David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Nathan Lyon
Referees: Aleem Dar (PAK) and Ahsan Raza (PAK)
TV referee: Rashid Riaz (PAK)
Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)