Key points
- Marsh and Inglis likely miss opener
- Travis Head expected to captain first match
- Injuries rule out several Australian stars
LAHORE: Australia’s men’s cricket team arrived in Lahore on Wednesday ahead of a three-match T20 International series against Pakistan, set to begin on Thursday at Gaddafi Stadium, with injuries and late arrivals expected to force changes to the visitors’ lineup for the opening match.
The 17-member squad, led by Mitchell Marsh, will take a day’s rest before the opening fixture. However, reports suggest Marsh and wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis are unlikely to feature in the first match, having only arrived in Pakistan after playing in the Big Bash League final.
Both players were part of the Perth Scorchers squad that secured their sixth BBL title on Sunday, defeating the Sydney Sixers at Perth Stadium. In their absence, Travis Head is expected to lead Australia as stand-in captain for the series opener.
Key players
Australia will also be without several key players due to injury, including Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Tim David and Nathan Ellis. All-rounder Glenn Maxwell has been rested as he prepares for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which begins next week.
The second and third matches of the series will also be held at the Gaddafi Stadium on January 31 and February 1. The toss for each match is scheduled for 5:30pm Pakistan Standard Time, with play beginning at 6:00pm.
The series will provide important preparation for both sides ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, to be held in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8.
Australia Squad:
Mitch 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, Matt Short, Marcus Stoinis and Adam Zampa.
