The historic Test series between Pakistan and Australia on Pakistani soil after 24 years is about to start in a few hours.
Due to rain in Rawalpindi a day before the scheduled match on Friday, both the teams have canceled their practice sessions.
All tickets for the first three days of the historic Test match at Pindi Cricket Stadium have been sold out. After the rain one day before the match, now cricket fans are also wanting to know the answer to the question how much rain can affect this match?
The rain a day before the start of the match has affected the planning of both the teams and both the captains have admitted this in their press conferences.
“We will make our team combination considering the weather for the next five days. Unfortunately, we could not go to the ground today due to rain. We will form our final team after seeing the pitch,” captain Babar Azam told a press conference on Thursday.
“We can’t go to the ground today,” Australian captain Pat Cummins told a news conference. We don’t want to make any premature decision, we have in mind a combination of three fast bowlers and two spinners but we will make the final decision after seeing the pitch.
According to the report of Meteorological Department, there is no possibility of rain for the first two days of the test match but rain is forecast for the third and fourth days. Rain with strong winds is expected in Rawalpindi on Sunday and Monday.
There is no possibility of continuous rain on both the days but intermittent rain will definitely affect the match to some extent, which is why both the teams did not announce their final team.
Possible playing XI of both the teams
Rain is also likely to affect the playing XI of both the teams. With the two days of the Test match being overcast, the Sam bowlers can be helped and that is why the Pakistan team management has not yet made a final decision regarding their bowling combination.
Given the pitch, it was expected that Pakistan would field two fast bowlers and two spinners. While Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah will try to crack the Australian batting line with a new ball from Pakistan.
Wasim Jr. and Saud Shakeel have yet to make a decision on joining the team and if they come on the field with two fast bowlers, Saud Shakeel will be responsible for handling the lower order as the seventh batsman in the Pindi Test match.
Similarly, the Australian team combination is also being prepared keeping in view the weather conditions. Initially the wicket looked favorable for the batsmen and that is why the team management was definitely considering fielding with three spinners and two fast bowlers but due to the cloudy weather it is likely that Australia will field three fast bowlers. Will take the field with bowlers and two spinners.
What do the two captains say?
Captain Babar Azam in his press conference said that Hassan Ali and Faheem Ashraf will be missed. “Our team combination has been affected by his fitness issues. Faheem plays his part in both batting and bowling and Hassan Ali is a match-winning bowler.”
He said that Australia is a great team and it cannot be taken lightly. “We have done our best and hopefully the fans will get to see good cricket.”
Australian captain Pat Cummins said in a press conference a day before the match: “Pindi’s pitch will definitely help the fast bowlers a little bit. Not coming
“Playing in Asian conditions is not easy and the spinners get more help. This is a test for the batsmen, and our real test will be here compared to the previous Test matches we played. How do we spend time on the wicket?” ۔ ‘