Australia has officially announced a 17-member squad for their upcoming T20I series against Pakistan, with Mitchell Marsh named as captain for the three-match tour. The series will be played at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore and is scheduled for January 29, January 31, and February 1, with all matches starting at 4:00 pm local time.
This T20I series against Pakistan is seen as a crucial preparation phase for both teams ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which will take place in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8. With limited time before the global tournament begins, both sides are expected to experiment with combinations while maintaining competitive intensity.
At the T20 World Cup, Pakistan has been placed in Group A, alongside India, South Africa, the Netherlands, and Namibia. At the same time, Australia will compete in Group B with Sri Lanka, Ireland, Zimbabwe, and Oman. Performances in Lahore could play a key role in final squad selections for the World Cup.
This tour marks Australia’s third visit to Pakistan since 2022, when they returned for a historic Test series after a long gap. Since then, Australia has also played ODI and T20I matches, as well as ICC Champions Trophy 2025 games in Pakistan, highlighting growing cricketing ties between the two nations.
Historically, Pakistan and Australia have faced each other 28 times in T20 Internationals. Australia holds a slight edge with 14 wins, while Pakistan has won 12 matches, with one tie and one no result recorded.
The Australia T20I squad includes a blend of experienced campaigners and emerging talent, such as Travis Head, Marcus Stoinis, Cameron Green, Adam Zampa, and Josh Inglis, alongside promising players like Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, and Mitch Owen. The balanced squad reflects Australia’s intent to stay competitive while building depth ahead of major tournaments.
