The ICC's rankings would suggest that Pakistan (6th) and Australia (9th) will be competing for the minor placings at the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka that follows this series. Yet the talent and aggression contained within both sides is considerable, and will be on full display over the next three matches in Dubai as Mohammad Hafeez and George Bailey, the two captains, decide on their best T20 combinations before the big tournament.
Pakistan's best in the format has been proven good enough to lift the world title, as proven over a joyous three weeks in England in 2009. At the last tournament in the West Indies they looked good for another tilt, only to be humbugged by an extraordinary innings from Michael Hussey as Australia scraped their way into the final, ultimately lost to England. Since then Cricket Australia have taken an increasingly serious look at T20, reflected in how the workloads of several players have been managed to have them building up to a peak over the next month.
The ODI series that preceded these games was narrowly won by Australia, but the T20 side is not that of Michael Clarke. Bailey has plenty to live up to over the next three matches, not least the need for him to put a stamp on the captaincy with his bat, which so far has yielded a grand total of 60 runs and a highest score of 24. Hafeez is also seeking to make the role his own, having shared his first series with Sri Lanka earlier in the year. He is adamant that there is more to his team than the spin wiles of Saeed ajmal, and the next three matches will provide a chance to prove it to the world and themselves ahead of the World T20.



Keywords: ICC's rankings, Pakistan ,Australia, World Twenty20 , Sri Lanka,Mohammad Hafeez , George Bailey, , T20 combinations ,Cricket Australia,Michael Clarke, Saeed ajmal,cricket news,sports news