PAK vs AUS: Former captain hails Pakistan's historic ODI series win against Australia

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Former Test cricketer Rashid Latif has hailed Pakistan's remarkable 2-1 ODI series victory over Australia in their own backyard, marking the first such triumph in 22 years. 

In a recent interview at a local news channel, Latif credited several key factors for Pakistan's success, emphasizing the importance of good leadership.

The former captain explained that a strong captain plays a pivotal role in uniting the team, both on and off the field. 

"When you have a good captain, the team performs on the ground. We can clearly see this happening in this series," he remarked, praising the leadership on display.

The former wicketkeeper-batter noted that the victory was not just about leadership but also about effective player selection and the ability to adapt to pitch conditions. 

"In this win, captaincy, player selection, and pitch conditions all played a significant role," he added.

Latif further lauded the outstanding performances from both the Pakistani bowlers and batters. 

"The bowlers performed beyond expectations, dismissing Australian players who are familiar with their home pitches. And the batting, which chased down 141 with ease, was equally impressive. This win against Australia in Australia is highly encouraging for Pakistan cricket," he said.

He also expressed his views on the Indian team's non-participation in the upcoming 2025 Champions Trophy, stating that while a 'hybrid model' might work in the Asia Cup, where certain compromises can be made, it is not feasible for ICC events. He emphasized that if a country refuses to play in Pakistan, such a stance will not be acceptable.

"If one country decides not to come to Pakistan, it can’t work that way in an ICC event," Latif asserted.

The historic victory was sealed in Perth, where Pakistan's bowlers restricted Australia to just 140 runs in the decisive third ODI. Pakistan then chased down the target of 141 in just 27 overs, losing only 2 wickets, thus clinching the series with a 2-1 win.

After completion of the fifty-over series, the Men in Green will face off against Australia in a three-match T20I series start from November 14th.

Pakistan T20 squad: Muhammad Rizwan (c), Abbas Afridi, Agha Salman, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan, Irfan Khan, Jahandad Khan, Naseem Shah, Omair Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Usman Khan.

T20I series schedule:

• 14 November: The Gabba, Brisbane (N)
• 16 November: SCG, Sydney (N)
• 18 November: Bellerive Oval, Hobart (N)