Australia tour of Pakistan 2026: 1st T20I | Lahore | January 29 | Pre-Match Discussion

[The Bald Eagle]

Pakistan Cricket Board has named a 16-member squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Australia at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. The matches will take place on 29, 31 January, 1 February and will begin at 4pm PKT.

Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi have returned to the T20I squad after missing the three-match away series against Sri Lanka in January.

Shadab Khan will continue to build on his comeback in the previous T20I series and will form part of a strong spin-bowling contingent along with Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz and Usman Tariq.

Pakistan squad and player support personnel are expected to convene in Lahore on Saturday, 24 January and will begin their preparations for the series the following day.

Australia are set to arrive in Pakistan on Wednesday, 28 February and will play just their second series in the format on Pakistan soil after a solitary T20I in April 2022 at Gaddafi Stadium.

16-member squad:

Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk) and Usman Tariq

 

[sweep_shot]

Hoping for a good match and a good series.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Always a nice contest brother.

I will be watching.

 

[BouncerGuy]

What should be playing 11??? Too many top order batters.

Farhan
Saim
Babar
salman
Usman
Nafay
Nawaz
Shadab
Abrar
Shaheen
salman mirza

 

[Vikram1989]

Why the matches are at 4 pm ?

 

[BouncerGuy]

Why the matches are at 4 pm ?

It was 6pm but then due to fog, it was revised

 

[Vikram1989]

It was 6pm but then due to fog, it was revised

Second fielding team should hope not to get ripped off by fog.If match can complete by 7pm then its fine. otherwise carnage at hands of aus batsmen at the slog end.

 

[globetrotter]

Second fielding team should hope not to get ripped off by fog.If match can complete by 7pm then its fine. otherwise carnage at hands of aus batsmen at the slog end.

Anyway Aussies going to win the series despite whatever the circumstances

 

[Vikram1989]

Anyway Aussies going to win the series despite whatever the circumstances

I dont expect anything less than a mauling. If first choice bowlers are fit, all hyped up 130 sr batters will be shown their place

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

Will be a good series, excepting pak to win

 

[globetrotter]

I dont expect anything less than a mauling. If first choice bowlers are fit, all hyped up 130 sr batters will be shown their place

IMO Aus will win bcos they are tremendously fit athletes, if opposite team make one error they snatch the whole game from opposition.

 

[Ball Blazer]

Will be a good series, excepting pak to win

expectations often lead to disappointment.

 

[Usman Chadda]

IMO Aus will win bcos they are tremendously fit athletes, if opposite team make one error they snatch the whole game from opposition.

Will be interesting to see how Australian juggernauts handle Pakistan's spin bowling attack. The pitches won't be flat that's for sure.

Regardless our batting is so garbage that we will still get mauled.

 

[globetrotter]

NZ 39-3... India in full control

Kiwi have to play really well to post challenging target for strong Indian batters

 

[globetrotter]

Will be interesting to see how Australian juggernauts handle Pakistan's spin bowling attack. The pitches won't be flat that's for sure.

Regardless our batting is so garbage that we will still get mauled.

Unlike old Australian players, current Australian players playing spin well.... reason is IPL, they all have enough experience of playing spinners in IPL

 

[CricVet]

I am hoping Babar plays all 3 games of T20

 

[Cricket Warrior]

 

[Kianig89]

4pm is local time, weather will be quite chilly , hopefully no rainy season

 

[Babeikh]

Will be interesting to see how Australian juggernauts handle Pakistan's spin bowling attack. The pitches won't be flat that's for sure.

Regardless our batting is so garbage that we will still get mauled.

Yes we should be making pitches as close to Sri Lanka as possible but somehow i don't think the PCB will think of that.

 

[Usman Chadda]

Yes we should be making pitches as close to Sri Lanka as possible but somehow i don't think the PCB will think of that.

PCB’s internal circuit has fried up as the World Cup is getting closer.

Rather than let the team focus on the cricket, they are being led to focus on boycotts and auctions.

 

[Devadwal]

4pm is local time, weather will be quite chilly , hopefully no rainy season

Rainy season in January? No way