Pakistan Breaks 22-Year Spell with Epic Win in Australia

News Desk 

Islamabad: In a thrilling display, Pakistan’s cricket team defeated Australia 2-1 in the One-Day International (ODI) series on Sunday, claiming a long-awaited series victory in Australia after 22 years.

Needing 141 runs to win the final match in Perth, Pakistan chased down the target in just 27 overs, sealing the series triumph. Pakistan last won an ODI series against Australia on Australian soil in 2002.

Pakistan’s openers, Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique, delivered a solid start with a partnership of 84 runs, scoring 42 and 37 runs, respectively. Skipper Muhammad Rizwan and star batter Babar Azam completed the chase with unbeaten scores of 30 and 28, leading the team to a convincing victory.

Leaders Praise Team

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the national team on the historic win. The president lauded the players for breaking a 22-year drought, expressing hope for continued success. Prime Minister Shehbaz hailed the series victory as a “Big Day for Pakistani Cricket” and attributed it to unity and hard work by players, coaches, and management.

Provincial Leaders Commend Performance

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and PPP Senator Waqar Mehdi also extended their congratulations. Maryam Nawaz applauded the players for their dedication and success, calling it a proud moment for the nation.

Senator Mehdi commended the team’s effort and highlighted the significance of securing a win on Australian turf after over two decades, emphasizing teamwork and determination as keys to their success.

This historic victory is a promising start to what fans and officials alike hope will be a successful era for Pakistani cricket.

Pakistan Outclasses Australia

Pakistan secured a historic series win over Australia, defeating the hosts by nine wickets in the final One-Day International (ODI) and clinching the series 2-1. This marks Pakistan’s first ODI series victory in Australia since 2002.

Bowling first, Pakistan restricted Australia to a modest 140 in 31.5 overs. Shaheen Afridi led the charge, taking three wickets for 32 runs, while Naseem Shah also impressed with three wickets for 54 runs. Haris Rauf contributed significantly with figures of 2 for 24.

Captain Mohammad Rizwan praised his team’s performance, especially the bowlers, in his post-match remarks. “It’s a special moment for me and the fans,” Rizwan stated, attributing the victory to the bowlers.

“Australia in Australia is not easy, but Saim [Ayub] and Abdullah [Shafique] have given us great starts as well,” he added. Rizwan also expressed gratitude for the fans’ unwavering support, saying, “The fans love us regardless of whether we win or lose, and I really appreciate that.”

Australian captain Josh Inglis expressed disappointment over the loss, acknowledging that his team struggled to score sufficiently in the last two games. “After probably the first three-quarters of the first game [in Melbourne], we were totally outplayed,” Inglis remarked.

“Not enough runs on the board in games two and three.”

The series was tied at 1-1 before the final game, with Australia narrowly winning the opener in Melbourne by two wickets and Pakistan bouncing back with a dominant nine-wicket win in Adelaide.

Australia fielded a reshuffled squad, resting Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Marnus Labuschagne, and Steve Smith ahead of their upcoming Test series against India.

Replacements included pacers Sean Abbott, Spencer Johnson, and Lance Morris, with Marcus Stoinis and Cooper Connolly strengthening the batting lineup. Inglis stepped in as captain in Cummins’ absence.

In contrast, Pakistan named an unchanged lineup, with Haris Rauf leading the attack following his impressive 5-29 performance in Adelaide.

Australia XI: Matt Short, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis (capt), Cooper Connolly, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Sean Abbott, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson, Lance Morris.

Pakistan XI: Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (capt), Kamran Ghulam, Agha Salman, Irfan Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain.