Hafeez said records did not matter as Pakistan always go for a win. -Photo by AFP

ABU DHABI: Vice-captain Mohammad Hafeez said Pakistan were focussed on winning the third one-day match at Sharjah Stadium here on Monday to take their first series against Australia in ten years.

Pakistan and Australia go into the third and final one-day at 1-1, with Australia winning the first match here by four wickets before their rivals earned a series-levelling seven wicket win in the second at Abu Dhabi on Friday.

Hafeez said records did not matter as Pakistan always go for a win.

“We, as a team, think about winning every game but if in the process we are able to achieve a record then it's fine,” said Hafeez of Pakistan's prospects of winning their first one-day series against Australia since 2002.

Hafeez said Pakistan's varied bowling gave them the edge over Australia.

“We want to take the winning momentum of the second match into the third and our varied bowling attack gives us an edge over Australia,” said Hafeez, himself part of the spin trio led by Saeed Ajmal.

Left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman replaced Shahid Afridi in the second match after the leg-spinner had a recurrence of a back problem. Afridi was a doubtful starter for Monday.

Ajmal took three wickets in the first match and four in the second, exposing Australia's weakness against spin.

Hafeez refused to admit that it will be a win toss, win match situation after Pakistan benefitted from Australia's decision of batting first in Abu Dhabi.

“They were wet conditions in Abu Dhabi but they are the same for both the teams and I don't think the toss will be decisive,” said Hafeez.

Australian allrounder David Hussey admitted Ajmal has been a threat.

“He (Ajmal) is a hell of a great bowler. It is totally different from the way Australians play him, you might see a different technique against him in the third game,” said Hussey.

Hussey said all Pakistani spinners warrant attention.

“All their bowlers warrant lots of attention. We do our planning very deligently and when it comes to planning and Hafeez definitely does not slip under the radar and he is number one ranked spinner in the world at the moment.”

Apart from the Pakistani spinners, Australia were smarting from the oppressive heat in the United Arab Emirates.

“It is just a different humidity than we are used to. The key is to keep your body temperature down. We are strengthening and our conditioning coach has been fantastic and the key is to keep your body temperature down and you have to adapt that,” said Hussey.

Australia were hopeful their openers Matthew Wade and David Warner fire after failing to score big in the first two matches.

Paceman Mitchell Starc was a doubtful starter after complaining of chest pain on Friday.

Opinion

Editorial

Sustainable path?
Updated 13 Jun, 2026

Sustainable path?

The FY27 budget is the first clear signal that the government is ready to transition from stabilisation to growth.
Prioritising education
13 Jun, 2026

Prioritising education

THOUGH the improvement in the country’s literacy rate may be slight, as highlighted by the Economic Survey, it ...
Poverty’s rise
13 Jun, 2026

Poverty’s rise

AS attention turns to the government’s plans for the coming fiscal year, one set of figures deserves particular...
A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...