Pakistan win toss, bat against Australia in first ODI

SHARJAH: Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq won the toss and opted to bat against Australia in the first of three limited overs internationals at Sharjah Stadium here on Tuesday.

Pakistan included Kamran Akmal in the starting XI, the wicket-keeper batsman playing for the first time since being dropped after the World Cup in March last year.

Australia brought in allrounder Dan Christian in place of left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty from the line-up which beat Afghanistan.

Australia: Michael Clarke (capt), David Warner, George Bailey, Dan Christian, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Matthew Wade (wkt), Mitchell Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc.

Pakistan: Misbahul Haq (capt), Nasir Jamshed, Mohammad Hafeez, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Kamran Akmal (wkt), Shahid Afridi, Sohail Tanveer, Aizaz Cheema, Saeed Ajmal. (AFP)