Pakistan v Australia 1st ODI at Dubai, April 22, 2009

Dubai: When Pakistan take on Australia in the first match of their one-day series here on Wednesday, Andrew Symonds and Shoaib Akhtar will face what could be the last chance to revive their careers.

Australian all-rounder Symonds, who was previously told to seek counselling after a series of alcohol-related incidents, has made a comeback to the squad after being dropped for a recent one-day series in South Africa.

Pakistan captain Younis Khan urged his team not to be complacent because Australia is missing three of its better players for a one-day international series.

He is banking on his fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Umar Gul to provide the firepower to match the pace of the Australians in the One-day series in Dubai and Abu Dhabi starting on Wednesday.

"We have quality bowlers in Shoaib Akhtar and Umar Gul and if they provide the start we want we have back up bowling to match the Australians," Younis said.

Australia team the three players Ponting, Hussey and Johnson are being rested ahead of the Twenty20 World Cup and Ashes series in England later this year.

Pakistan are most likely to play three specialist fast bowlers - Shoaib, Umar Gul and Sohail Tanvir - with Saeed Ajmal, Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik offering spin support. Nasir Jamshed should be back at the top of the order after missing the last couple of series.

Despite putting together century stands in their last two games in South Africa, Australia are likely to disturb the opening combination of Brad Haddin and Clarke, and instead put Shaun Marsh and Shane Watson at the top of the order.

Pitch and conditions
Pakistan aren't playing at home, but conditions at the Dubai Sports City Stadium will probably resemble those in Lahore or Karachi. The heat will be quite acute, and the dry conditions should offer plenty of encouragement for the spinners.

Stats and Trivia

• Australia have been in wretched ODI form this year, winning only five matches out of 15, and losing nine.
• Nathan Bracken has been one of the below-par performers during this period, with only ten wickets in 14 matches at an average of 39.93 and an economy rate of 5.34.
• In 11 ODIs against Australia, Younis has only scored 158 runs at an average of 15.80, with one half-century.
• These two teams last played an ODI more than three years ago, during the VB Series in February 2005. Australia won the best-of-three finals 2-0.

Match facts
Wednesday April 22, 2009
Start time 2.30pm (10.30 GMT)