Aus vs Pak - Last Chance For Pakistan to Avoid Rout

Melbourne: In a tour that has been an unmitigated disaster for Pakistan, their last chance of a glimmer of self-respect lies in the only T20.

The Australian side is a completely new look side. Michael Clarke will lead the side and he will have at his disposal a bunch of explosive and talented batsmen who can take the game to the opposition, including debutant Travis Birt.

Steven Smith is a batsman-legspinner who is most exciting for his brutal shot-making. Only 20, Smith has immense power and has quickly proved he is ready for international action, although the rise may have come a little too quickly for his bowling.

Pakistan will be missing their influential captain, Shahid Afridi, who is serving a two T-20 match ban for ball tampering. His loss is massive for Pakistan, as he led the team to the trophy with his all round skills during the 2009 World T20 championships in England.

Umar Gul didn't have much fun in the one-day series and hasn't played since delivering a nine-ball over that cost 23 in Adelaide. Those numbers should be ignored by the selectors because Gul is a Twenty20 master.

Team news

Australia have some strong fast bowlers to choose from, with Ryan Harris, Mitchell Johnson, Shaun Tait and Dirk Nannes jostling for three spots. 

Squad (from): Shane Watson, Shaun Marsh, David Warner, Michael Clarke (capt), Cameron White, Travis Birt, David Hussey, Steven Smith, Brad Haddin (wk), Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris, Dirk Nannes, Shaun Tait.

Pakistan have to tinker to fill the various roles of Afridi and are also without Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan, who don't play Twenty20s. 

Squad (from):  Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal (wk), Fawad Alam, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik (capt), Khalid Latif, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Imran Nazir, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif, Saeed Ajmal, Rao Iftikhar Anjum, Mohammad Aamer.

Pitch and conditions
The surface in Melbourne is usually hard work for everyone in the longer forms of the game, but that can often be overcome in Twenty20s. The weather might also be tricky, with rain predicted in the morning before easing to isolated showers.

Stats and trivia

• Australia have lost both times they have faced Pakistan in Twenty20s
• Shoaib Malik and Kamran Akmal have played 27 T20 internationals, four behind the leader Brendon McCullum, while Australia's most experienced men are Michael Clarke and Nathan Bracken, who is not in the squad, on 19.
• Australia haven't completed a T20 game since their first-round exit at the World Twenty20 in June. Their two games against England in September were wash outs.
• The MCG has hosted two of these internationals, with Australia winning each time

Match facts
Friday, February 5, 2010
Start time 19:35 local time (08:35 GMT)