Pakistan's strongest XI for T20 series against Australia 

Pakistan and Australia have already come off the back of a two-match Test series, which without the services of Usman Khawaja, would have ended in a 2-0 result in favour of the Pakistan side.

Leaving that behind, Australia wanted to make a fresh start with the beginning of the T20 series between the two sides based on three matches.

Starting in Abu Dhabi, Pakistan did well with the bat in the first 14 overs and made 109-2, before completely losing the plot and folding for 155-8. Only Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, and paceman Hasan Ali made respectable scores that lifted the team.

Australia were the favourites to chase down the ordinary total, that was until Imad Wasim bowled his third ball in the first over. The Kangaroos lost 6 wickets within the first six overs, a first-time achievement for Pakistani bowlers, and ended their innings at 89 all out, losing the match by 66 runs.

Even though it can be said that Pakistan was flawless in their bowling performance, they need to make some adjustments to the batting line-up by tinkering with the winning XI.

Let's take a look at the perfect T20 combination that can be formed with the squad at hand for the remainder of the 3-match series.

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Openers – Fakhar Zaman & Babar Azam

Pakistan's T20 openers

Fakhar Zaman is the firecracker that Pakistan had been looking for a long time. Averaging 30 in 22 innings, Fakhar strikes the ball at an impressive 142 runs per 100 balls.

This gives him an edge over the other openers who have represented Pakistan since the beginning of the decade and has allowed him to become a regular in the side.

Fakhar should be retained for the second and third T20 even if he fails to make an impact as he did in the first T20, falling for just 14 runs.

Babar Azam, on the other hand, is the calmer and more dependable opener when it comes to T20s. He averages a mammoth 57.85 in the format with a strike rate of 127.15. That’s no easy feat in the fast-paced format where you either hit out or get out.

Babar has a high score of 97* in T20Is and made the biggest impact with the bat in the previous match where he scored 68 not out in 55 balls and carried the innings through amid a collapse.

Middle Order – Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik & Asif Ali/Hussain Talat

The veterans of Pakistani cricket

One of the two most experienced men in the side, Hafeez was undoubtedly one of the best off-spinners in limited overs cricket during his prime. However, due to his bowling action being reported and banned a few times, he has lost a bit of that charm.

His batting is still decent enough to get him a place in the side which is mostly starred by new faces. Pakistan always hopes that he will provide some stability, and the former opener now finds it better to bat at No. 3 rather than at the top of the innings.

Hafeez scored a patient 39 in the first match against Australia which was the second highest score in the innings.

The veteran of Pakistani cricket is available for selection for the second and third T20, after arriving to meet the team a tad late. After missing the first match, Malik will be looking to reclaim his spot in the side.

He has been a dependable option for Pakistan who has helped guide the team during the crisis a few times, and Wednesday’s collapse showed how important it is to have a man like him in the middle order.

Hussain Talat and Asif Ali were both parts of the side on Wednesday and had a chance to prove themselves in the absence of Malik.

However, both men failed to make any impact whatsoever with the bat and landed Pakistan in a difficult position.

It is likely that one of them will miss out Friday’s game, and as Asif Ali has given a few good performances with the bat in the past, it seems like Hussain Talat will face the axe as his bowling services were also not required by the side on Wednesday.

Lower Middle Order – Sarfraz Ahmed, Imad Wasim & Faheem Ashraf

Imad has been vocal about Sarfraz's anger issues

The captain Sarfraz Ahmed has been off-colour in recent times and hasn’t been performing with the bat at all except for one-off performances.

He will need to step up his game, and as a fixed member for the side, he will have to justify his position too while leading the side. With the return of Imad Wasim, the management will feel comfortable in resting Sarfraz if he doesn’t perform soon, as Imad can take over the reins from him whenever required.

Imad Wasim announced his return to International cricket in grand fashion on Wednesday. After getting out for a first-ball-duck, he opened the bowling and rocked the entire Australian top line-up by claiming two wickets in his first over, followed by another in the second.

After the bad show with the bat, Pakistan was only able to win due to his dents up front. This makes him a solid choice for the remaining two T20s.

Faheem Ashraf was Imad’s partner in crime during the Australian collapse. He too started the innings with the ball and provided the wickets of the important Chris Lynn and Glenn Maxwell.

He is not just a good bowler, but a good pinch-hitting batsman and his inclusion will remain welcomed for a Pakistani side that has been lacking pace bowling allrounders for quite some time.

Bowlers – Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali & Shaheen Shah Afridi

The rising stars of the team

The young spin bowling sensation has provided Pakistan with wickets whenever he has been called on by the captain. Shadab’s leg spin will be important to a Pakistani bowling line up that is lined with off-spinners, and it will make him a regular for the starting XI.

Hasan Ali has been the other young sensation for Pakistan along with Shadab, and his inclusion to the side too remains confirmed, as he bowled fast, straight, and got a wicket on Wednesday without leaking many runs.

He has provided the Pakistani bowling line-up which had been lacking since the past 3 years and has become the spearhead of the young team.

Last but not least, Shaheen Afridi broke into the scenes with his impressive PSL performances like his fellow young cricketers and has found equal success on the international level. Still quite young, Pakistan will want to give him as many limited overs chances as possible while trying to make him a Test bowler too.

He has quite a few variations in his arsenal and grabbed two quick wickets in the first game. This will ensure he gets more chances during the remainder of the series.