Last Updated on 1 month by Charbel Coorey

PAK vs AUS 2nd Test Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report | PAK vs AUS 2nd Test Dream11 Prediction Today | Pakistan vs Australia 2nd Test Key Players | Karachi Pitch Report

After one of the most dull, uninspiring and anticlimactic Test matches in recent history, attention quickly moves to Karachi as Pakistan and Australia look to register safety in this three-match Test series.

The quicker the Rawalpindi Test is forgotten, the better. Australia’s visit was met with great anticipation and excitement, but the first Test delivered none of that on a wicket so flat that it broke the record for the least number of wickets among matches that lasted at least 330 overs.

The toss could be crucial once again given that Karachi often starts as a good batting wicket before taking spin. With that in mind, Australia are likely to play two spinners, with Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith to hold great importance to their chances with the bat. Also, while the Rawalpindi pitch was flat, Australia’s bowlers took just three in well over 200 overs of bowling, which is cause for review and improvement in the all-important second Test.

For Pakistan, they no doubt had the better of the first Test, but now it is about stepping things up to win. They too struggled for penetration before Australia threw some wickets away in an attempt to score runs quickly, so how they build pressure in this Test will make for interesting viewing. But, their top order – particularly openers Imam ul Haq and Abdullah Shafique – come into this Test with huge confidence, and if they can deliver another strong opening partnership, doubts and worries will creep into Australia’s minds.

Possible Playing 11

Faheem Ashraf is back in the Pakistan squad, and Hasan Ali is also a good chance of playing.

Pakistan: 1. Imam ul Haq, 2. Abdullah Shafique, 3. Azhar Ali, 4. Babar Azam (c), 5. Fawad Alam, 6. Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 7. Faheem Ashraf, 8. Hasan Ali, 9. Shaheen Shah Afridi, 10. Nauman Ali, 11. Sajid Khan

Mitch Swepson was labelled as a “huge chance” to play by skipper Pat Cummins following the Rawalpindi Test, and he will play. Josh Hazlewood misses out.

Australia: 1. David Warner, 2. Usman Khawaja, 3. Marnus Labuschagne, 4. Steve Smith, 5. Travis Head, 6. Cameron Green, 7. Alex Carey (wk), 8. Pat Cummins (c), 9. Mitchell Starc, 10. Mitch Swepson, 11. Nathan Lyon

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Pakistan:

• Imam ul Haq became the 10th Pakistan batsman to register two centuries in the same Test. If Pakistan get the better of the batting conditions once again, watch out for Imam who will be sure to play with more determination and concentration.
• Azhar Ali has struck a fifty and century in two Tests at Karachi since 2019. He too is coming off a century in the first Test, and averages 56.42 in 12 Tests against Australia.
• Babar Azam has played plenty of cricket in Karachi in the PSL, so he is familiar with the ground. Test cricket is a different challenge, however, and Babar will be looking to improve on his average of 31.78 in eight Tests against Australia.
• Nauman Ali was Pakistan’s star bowler in the first Test with a six-fer. He has a five-fer to his name at Karachi (vs South Africa) and took 61 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 23.16 on this ground in Pakistan’s First Class competition (Quaid-e-Azam Trophy) in 2020/21.
• Sajid Khan took 67 wickets in 11 matches at Karachi in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy in 2020/21 at an average of 25.08.
• Hasan Ali took 43 wickets the same competition at an average of 20.08. Also, Hasan was Pakistan’s top Test wicket-taker in 2021 with 41 wickets in eight matches at an average of 16.07.

Australia:

• David Warner averages 104.72 in eight Tests against Pakistan (1,152 runs). He looked good for more runs in the first Test before he was bowled for 68.
• Usman Khawaja missed out on his century by just three runs in Rawalpindi. He was proactive against the spinners, and will need to have the same mindset in Karachi. He averages 74.12 six Tests against Pakistan (593 runs).
• Marnus Labuschagne also narrowly missed his hundred in Rawalpindi (90). He also has a good average against Pakistan (74), with 518 runs in five Tests against them.
• Steve Smith has scored just the one Test century in 15 Tests since the 2019 Ashes. He has made five half-centuries in this period, including 78 in the first Test where a century was for the taking. He averages 55.53 in 10 Tests against Pakistan, with eight 50+ scores.
• Pat Cummins was Australia’s only wicket-taker among the seamers in the entire Rawalpindi Test. The Australian captain will be key to Australia’s hopes in Karachi. He has taken just the nine wickets in three Tests vs Pakistan so far at an average of 37.11.
• The spotlight will be on Nathan Lyon after a very tough first Test where he took total figures of 1/236 in 78 overs. His 34 wickets against Pakistan cost 52.73 runs apiece, but he could be a factor if the ball spins sharply.

Stats and Facts

• Karachi has played host to two Test matches since the start of 2019. Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 263 runs in 2019 and then South Africa by seven wickets in 2021.
• Fawad Alam was player of the match in last year’s Karachi Test against South Africa for his 109 in the first innings.
• Australia has never won a Test at Karachi in eight attempts. The last time Australia played in Karachi was in 1998, where the Test ended in a draw.

National Stadium Karachi Pitch Report and Weather

On first glance, the Karachi track looks to have a little covering of grass compared to the Rawalpindi track which had no life. The seamers may be in the game on the first couple of days, but the very warm conditions throughout the Test should see the pitch break up and spinners come into play from late day two onwards.

Hot and sunny conditions are forecast throughout the Test, with tops of around 35 degrees on each day.

Dream11 Prediction

Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article as well as your own instincts to create your teams.

Option 1:

Option 2:

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

• Wicket-keepers: Mohammad Rizwan
• Batsmen: Imam ul Haq, Steve Smith
• All-rounders: Steve Smith, Nauman Ali
• Bowlers: Shaheen Shah Afridi, Nathan Lyon

Match Prediction

Tough to call, with a lot depending on how the pitch plays. Pakistan start as favourites.