First ODI: Pakistan set 281-run target for Australia

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First ODI: Pakistan set 281-run target for Australia

Sharjah (Web Desk): Haris Sohail's ton helped Pakistan to set 281-run target for Australia in first match of the five ODIs series in Sharjah on Friday.

Earlier, Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik won the toss and opted to bat in the first one-day international against Australia.

Pakistan handed maiden one-day caps to 29-year-old opening batsman Shan Masood and seamer Mohammad Abbas. Shan has played 15 Tests for Pakistan.

Abbas has taken 66 wickets in just 14 Tests and will be part of a bowling attack which has two spinners in Yasir Shah and Imad Wasim.

All-rounder Glenn Maxwell recovered in time from flu to be part of the Australian XI, but fast bowler Pat Cummins and hard-hitting batsman Ashton Turner are rested.

Australia are also playing with two spinners in Adam Zampa and Nathan Lyon.

The remaining matches are in Sharjah (March 24), Abu Dhabi (March 27) and Dubai (March 29 and 31).

Playing XI

Pakistan: Shan Masood, Imam-ul-Haq, Haris Sohail, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik (c), Faheem Ashram, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Amir, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Abbas

Australia: Aaron Finch (c), Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Shaun Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Jhye Richardson, Nathan Lyon, Adam Zampa

Umpires: Michael Gough (ENG) and Ahsan Raza (PAK)

TV umpire: Kumar Dharmasena (SRI)

Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL)