Australia bat against Pakistan in first ODI

Australian captain Michael Clarke won the toss and opted to bat in the first one-day international against Pakistan at the Dubai Stadium in Dubai. Live Coverage

Australian captain Michael Clarke won the toss and opted to bat in the first one-day international against Pakistan at the Dubai Stadium in Dubai on Wednesday.

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Clarke is standing in for regular captain Ricky Ponting in the limited over series, which was moved to the United Arab Emirates after Australia refused to tour Pakistan due to security fears.

All-rounders Andrew Symonds and Shane Watson, as well as paceman Stuart Clarke, returned for Australia after missing the last few months due to fitness problems and injury.

Pakistan opted for medium fast bowler Rao Iftikhar instead of slinging left-arm paceman Sohail Tanvir, and also included off-spinner Saeed Ajmal in their squad.

The second match is scheduled to take place here on Friday. The remaining matches will be played in Abu Dhabi on April 27, May 1 and 3.

The only Twenty20 international will be played here on May 7.

Teams: Pakistan: Younus Khan (capt), Salman Butt, Nasir Jamshed, Shoaib Malik, Misbah-ul-Haq, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Rao Iftikhar, Saeed Ajmal

Australia: Michael Clarke (capt), Brad Haddin, Nathan Bracken, Callum Ferguson, Nathan Hauritz, Ben Hilfenhaus, James Hopes, Shaun Marsh, Andrew Symonds, Shane Watson, Stuart Clark

Umpires: Billy Bowden (NZL), Nadeem Ghouri (PAK)

Tv umpire: Asad Rauf (PAK)

Match-referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL)