Pakistan host Australia in key ODI series

Pakistan hosts Australia in a crucial one-day international series starting this week, with the tourists desperate to rediscover the form that saw them dominate the format in recent years.
Australia was the No. 1-ranked ODI team until July when a 4-0 defeat at the hands of England saw it drop down to fourth _ its worst-ever ODI ranking. Pakistan, meanwhile, was beaten 3-1 by Sri Lanka earlier this year and whitewashed by England 4-0. It is ranked 6th.
One of the key challenges for both sides will be dealing with the hot and humid conditions, with matches being played in the late evening to avoid the torrid temperatures. Australia got a sense of the conditions against Afghanistan Saturday night, in beating the war-torn nation by 66 runs in a one-off ODI.