Shaheen Shah Afridi (proper) celebrates with Babar Azam after taking the wicket of Bangladesh’s Tanzid Hasan in the course of the 2023 ICC Males’s Cricket World Cup one-day worldwide (ODI) match between Pakistan and Bangladesh on the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on October 31, 2023. — AFP
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday introduced a 16-member squad for the upcoming three-match T20I sequence towards Australia, scheduled to be performed at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.
The matches will happen on January 29, January 31 and February 1. All matches will begin at 4pm (PST).
Former captain Babar Azam and quick bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi return to the T20I squad after lacking Pakistan’s latest three-match sequence in Sri Lanka earlier this month, which led to a 1-1 draw.
Shadab Khan will proceed his comeback momentum and is about to guide a powerful spin-bowling unit alongside Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz and Usman Tariq.
The squad and assist employees are scheduled to assemble in Lahore on Saturday, with preparations for the sequence starting the next day.
Australia are set to reach in Pakistan on January 28, marking solely their second T20I sequence on Pakistani soil after a solitary match in April 2022, additionally held at Gaddafi Stadium.
The sequence will function essential preparation for either side forward of the ICC Males’s T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled in India and Sri Lanka from 7 February 7 to March 8.
Pakistan have been drawn in Group A alongside India, the USA, the Netherlands, and Namibia, whereas Australia will compete in Group B with Sri Lanka, Eire, Zimbabwe and Oman.
This tour will mark Australia’s third go to to Pakistan since March–April 2022, after they toured for a historic Check sequence, adopted by an ODI sequence and a one-off T20I.
Australia additionally performed three matches of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan, together with a slender three-wicket victory in the one T20I at Gaddafi Stadium on 5 April 2022.
Traditionally, Pakistan and Australia have confronted one another 28 occasions in T20Is. Australia have received 14 matches, Pakistan 12, with one tie and one no-result.
Pakistan 16-member squad:
Salman Ali Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk) and Usman Tariq.
Collection schedule
1st T20I: Thursday, 29 January – 4pm
2nd T20I: Saturday, 31 January – 4pm
third T20I: Sunday, 1 February – 4pm
