KEY POINTS
- Australia is resting five key players, including Pat Cummins and Glenn Maxwell.
- Squad features fringe players and uncapped talent like Mahli Beardman.
- Three-match series in Lahore serves as Australia’s final tune-up before T20 World Cup.
ISLAMABAD: Australia has opted to rest five of its star players, including captain Pat Cummins and all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, for a three-match Twenty20 international series in Pakistan later this month, selectors announced on Monday.
Alongside Cummins and Maxwell, pace bowler Josh Hazlewood, power-hitter Tim David, and seamer Nathan Ellis will also miss the tour, which begins in Lahore on January 29.
Chief selector George Bailey cited workload management and recovery from injuries as the primary reasons, with the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka starting on February 7 as the clear priority.
“The series is a great opportunity for those on the brink of selection and some young players we rate highly for valuable experience,” Bailey said in a statement.
Introducing our 17-player men's squad for the T20 International Series against Pakistan in Lahore later this month 🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/XcD17Bxyib
— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) January 19, 2026
Fresh faces and opportunities beckon
The absence of the established stars has paved the way for a significant influx of fringe and emerging talent into a 17-man squad.
The uncapped Mahli Beardman, a fast bowler, and batter Jack Edwards are among the new faces called up.
They are joined by Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis, Mitch Owen, Josh Philippe, and Matt Renshaw, all of whom will view the series as a crucial audition.
“Some are already experienced international players, along with Mahli Beardman, who has been with the group a number of times, and Jack Edwards, who joined for the last one-day match against India in Sydney last year,” Bailey noted.
Mitchell Marsh will captain the side, which features a core of World Cup-bound players including Travis Head, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa, and Cameron Green.
Series serves as final World Cup tune-up
The squad will play Pakistan in Lahore on January 29, 31, and February 1. It serves as Australia’s final competitive cricket before the global tournament.
Immediately after the series, the team will travel to Sri Lanka, where they are scheduled to open their World Cup campaign against Ireland in Colombo on February 11.
The decision underscores the delicate balancing act for top cricketing nations, prioritising peak condition for a World Cup over fielding full-strength sides in the immediately preceding bilateral series.
Australia Squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Mahli Beardman, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitch Owen, Josh Philippe, Matthew Renshaw, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.
