Mon Nov 04 03:00:00 UTC 2024: ## Pakistan and Australia Gear Up for ODI Series, Eyeing ICC Champions Trophy

**New Delhi, India**: Pakistan, under new captain Mohammad Rizwan, are kicking off their ODI series against Australia with their sights firmly set on the ICC Champions Trophy next year. Rizwan aims to solidify a winning team combination before the tournament, utilizing the upcoming series against Australia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and a home tri-nation tournament to experiment with players.

The reigning Champions Trophy champions (2017), Pakistan are undergoing a revamp to finalize their lineup. Their first ODI sees debutants Muhammad Irfan Khan and Saim Ayub making their international debuts.

Australia, fresh off their Men’s Cricket World Cup victory, are also introducing a new opening pair in Matt Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk, who will battle for a spot alongside Travis Head in the Champions Trophy. Captain Pat Cummins has encouraged an aggressive approach from his openers, urging them to play their natural game with a T20-style mindset.

**Both teams have announced their playing XI for the first ODI:**

**Australia:** Matt Short, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Steve Smith, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Aaron Hardie, Glenn Maxwell, Sean Abbott, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa

**Pakistan:** Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Kamran Ghulam, Salman Ali Agha, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain

The series promises to be a thrilling test for both teams as they prepare for the highly anticipated Champions Trophy, a tournament both nations are eager to conquer.

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