Pakistan and Australia meet in the series decider, the 3rd ODI, at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Thursday, 4 June. It is a day-nighter, first ball 5:00 PM IST (4:30 PM local).
The series is level 1-1. Pakistan took the opener in Rawalpindi by 5 wickets, powered by Arafat Minhas’ 5/32 on debut. Australia hit back in Lahore, winning the second ODI by 41 runs on a sharp-turning pitch, with Nathan Ellis taking a career-best 4/33.
Australia have done this without Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood and Head, yet still squared the series. On another slow, turning Gaddafi surface, spin should again decide the match, with Pakistan holding home advantage in a tight contest.
Match Details
| Match | Pakistan vs Australia, 3rd ODI (series decider) |
| Series | Australia tour of Pakistan 2026 (3 ODIs), level 1-1 |
| Date | Thursday, 4 June 2026 (day-night) |
| Time | First ball 5:00 PM IST / 4:30 PM local (PKT); toss 30 minutes earlier |
| Venue | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| Format | 50 overs per side |
| Captains | Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan), Josh Inglis (Australia) |
| Series so far | 1st ODI (Rawalpindi): Pakistan won by 5 wkts. 2nd ODI (Lahore): Australia won by 41 runs |
Dream11 Team for PAK vs AUS, 3rd ODI
Top Picks for PAK vs AUS
| Player | Team | Role | Why pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arafat Minhas | PAK | All-rounder | 5/32 on debut and Player of the Match in the 1st ODI. Left-arm spin on a turning track, plus lower-order runs. The captaincy call. |
| Shadab Khan | PAK | All-rounder | Top-scored with 71 in the 2nd ODI and bowls leg-spin. Two-way points on a surface that suits him. |
| Nathan Ellis | AUS | Bowler | Career-best 4/33 and Player of the Match in the 2nd ODI. New-ball and death-overs threat. |
| Josh Inglis | AUS | WK-Batter | Australia’s captain and a consistent top-order scorer this series. Keeper points add a floor. |
| Shaheen Afridi | PAK | Bowler | Captain and spearhead with 3 wickets in the 2nd ODI. New-ball strike bowler with swing up front. |
Pitch Report
| Venue | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| Pitch type | Slow and turning. The 2nd ODI here was a sharp turner with variable bounce, deliberately tilted toward spin. Expect similar, with grip and uneven bounce as the match wears on. |
| Scoring | A par total looks to be in the 230–250 range. Australia’s 231 was enough to defend comfortably in the 2nd ODI, so batting deep and building partnerships is key. |
| Pace vs spin | Spin dominates the middle overs (Minhas, Abrar, Shadab for Pakistan; Sangha, Kuhnemann, Short for Australia). The new-ball seamers still strike up top in the heat. |
| Toss factor | Under lights, some dew can help the chasing side grip the ball. Both batting first to scoreboard-pressure and bowling first to chase are defensible. |
| Rain / DLS | A real evening thunderstorm risk means DLS could come into play. Keeping the over rate and par score in mind matters in a decider. |
Weather Report
| Temperature | Extreme heat, high near 37°C (around 99°F). Hot, draining Lahore summer. |
| Sky | Mostly sunny by day, with clouds building toward evening. |
| Rain chance | High, roughly 60%. Evening thunderstorms are possible during the day-night window. |
| Conditions | Hot and humid early, dew likely under lights. Fitness and hydration are factors across 50 overs. |
| Overall | Heat and a genuine storm risk. Watch the toss, any dew, and a possible DLS revision before locking your team. |
PAK vs AUS Toss Prediction
On a slow turner under lights, the toss carries weight. Dew can make the ball harder to grip late, which tempts captains to bowl first and chase, but posting a total and squeezing with spin has already worked here.
If Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan) wins, he may bowl first and repeat the 1st ODI template, using Minhas, Abrar and Shadab to choke the middle overs before the batting handles the chase.
If Josh Inglis (Australia) wins, he may bat first to post 240-plus and back Ellis, Sangha and Kuhnemann to defend with spin and variations, as Australia did in the 2nd ODI.
Injury and Team News
Pakistan: No fresh injury concerns. After the 2nd ODI loss, Pakistan may tweak the balance, but the spin-heavy core of Shaheen, Minhas, Abrar and Shadab, plus Babar and Ghori up top, should remain.
Australia: Still without Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood and Head (rested or on IPL duty). The settled unit that won in Lahore, led by Ellis, Short and Sangha with the ball, is likely to be kept intact.
