Australia and Pakistan are set to battle in the 18th Match of the ICC Men's ODI World Cup 2023. The match will take place at the iconic M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on October 20 at 2:30 pm Bangladesh time. While Pakistan has won two matches in this World Cup so far, Australia just won one. Let’s see what we may expect from the AUS vs. PAK match.

Preview of Australia vs. Pakistan ODI in ICC Men’s World Cup 2023

Australia is keeping their chances in the tournament alive with a vital victory over Sri Lanka. This victory has lifted Pat Cummins' team from the lowest position in the standings, bringing them back into the competition. With 2 points and a -0.734 net run rate, Australia is in the 8th place of the ICC World Cup 2023 point table. They still have a chance to survive if they get big wins in the next matches.

They will face Pakistan next. But their win against Sri Lanka will surely boost their confidence. Australia faced defeats against India and South Africa before finally registering a win against Sri Lanka in this tournament. Their quest for a record sixth Cricket World Cup title hasn't had the most promising beginning. However, a second consecutive victory, this time against Pakistan, could potentially turn things around for them.

Australia had scored two totals below 200 before facing Sri Lanka. Even in that match, they needed only 210 to secure a win. Among their batsmen, only Marnus Labuschagne has managed to score 100 runs or more in three innings in this tournament. David Warner has an average of 21.66, and in the previous match, Steven Smith was dismissed without scoring any runs.

While there are significant concerns about Australia's batting resources, their bowling department has shown considerable strength this tournament. Leg-spinner Adam Zampa delivered a standout performance, taking four wickets and earning the Player of the Match title against Sri Lanka. In the upcoming match, he is expected to be a key player along with Glenn Maxwell, as they are likely to be the only slow bowlers for the Australian team.

On the other hand, Pakistan had a strong start in this World Cup, securing wins against Sri Lanka and the Netherlands. However, their momentum took a hit with a defeat to India. The team carries a significant weight of expectation but has shown a tendency to disappoint, especially in crucial matches against traditional rivals when the stakes are high.

Pakistan currently holds the 4th position in the ICC Men's ODI World Cup 2023 points table. They have secured 2 wins and suffered one loss in the three matches played during the round-robin stage. As a result, the team has accumulated a total of 4 points.

So, their next match is crucial to advance in the point table. But their loss against India might reduce their confidence a bit. They will need to rely on their bowlers as well as top orders. Hasan Ali has proven to be the primary wicket-taker for Pakistan in India during the ongoing tournament. Initially included as a late replacement for the injured Naseem Shah, Ali has evolved into a crucial member of the first-choice playing XI. He has impressively taken seven wickets in three matches, showcasing a prolific performance in ODI cricket. In terms of batting, the team looks to wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan to lead their ambitions once again.

Read more: ICC World Cup 2023 Live Streaming: How and Where to Watch all matches Online

Australia vs Pakistan Head to Head in ODI Records So Far

Australia and Pakistan have competed in a total of 107 ODI matches. In these encounters, Australia emerged victorious in 69 games, while Pakistan claimed success in 34 matches. Additionally, 3 matches concluded without a result, and 1 match ended in a tie.

Table: Australia vs Pakistan Head-to-Head ODI Matches So Far

Predicted Playing XI for Australia

David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (capt), Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.

Predicted Playing XI for Pakistan

Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi.

Read more: ICC World Cup 2023: Schedule, Fixtures, Venues, Team List

Key Australian Players to Watch

Marnus Labuschagne

Marnus Labuschagne stands as the leading run-scorer for Australia in the ICC Men's ODI World Cup 2023, amassing a total of 113 runs at an impressive strike rate of 64. Labuschagne's performances highlight his crucial role as a dependable batsman for the team, and his ability to maintain a solid strike rate adds an extra dimension to Australia's batting ability in the tournament.

Adam Zampa

Zampa’s four-wicket against Sri Lanka helped Australia to win the game. So, hopefully, he will play a significant role one more time against Pakistan. In Australia's World Cup team, Adam Zampa is one of the two Australian spinners chosen for the job. Because the matches are happening on spin pitches, how well Australia does in the games will largely rely on how Zampa bowls.

Mitchell Starc

Starc took five wickets in this World Cup so far with 2/43 best bowling inning. Although Mitchell Starc continues to be recognized as one of the top ODI bowlers worldwide, he has yet to give his best in this World Cup.

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Key Pakistani Players to Watch

Mohammad Rizwan

Leading the charge for Pakistan, Mohammad Rizwan has emerged as the top run-scorer in the ICC Men's ODI World Cup 2023, collecting an impressive total of 248 runs at a striking rate of 93. His innings have been characterized by a balanced blend of precision and power, evident in the 23 boundaries and three sixes he has struck.

Hasan Ali

Hasan Ali has proven to be the standout bowler for Pakistan in the ICC Men's ODI World Cup 2023, taking 7 wickets. His bowling performance is marked by an average of 19.71, reflecting his effectiveness in dismissing batsmen, and he has maintained an economy rate of 6.00.

Final Words

Australia seems to be carrying more momentum into this match, especially after their recent victory against Sri Lanka, while Pakistan faced a setback with a recent loss to India. The upcoming clash is anticipated to be a fierce battle, particularly between Australia's tough batting lineup and Pakistan's skilled bowling attack. The toss decision and prevailing playing conditions are likely to play a significant role in determining the outcome. With Australia being considered as favourites in the AUS vs. PAK match on October 20 in the ongoing 2023 ICC World Cup, they are expected to clinch the victory.

Read more: ICC World Cup 2023: Australia Men's ODI Squad Analysis