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New Delhi: The Mitchell Marsh-led Australian cricket team arrived in Lahore on Wednesday to participate in a three-match T20I series amidst uncertainty surrounding Pakistan's participation in next month's T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
The series will act as the final preparatory step for both Pakistan and Australia for the 2026 T20 World Cup starting on February 7.
It remains to be seen if the Pakistan cricket team gets the government’s nod to take part in the tournament, with murmurs of a pullout circulating widely as a mark of support for the Bangladesh cricket team, which was removed by the ICC after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) failed to confirm its team's participation in World Cup matches in India.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi met with Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif recently and conveyed that all options remain on the table, with the final decision likely to be taken by either Friday or next Monday.
While reports of a withdrawal remain rife, Pakistan have announced their squad for the 20-team tournament. With only one exception, the squad is the same that will take on Australia.
The selectors have not picked fast bowler Muhammad Wasim Jr in the World Cup squad, but he will be available for the series against Australia.
Australia have reached Pakistan without some of their regulars, including Pat Cummins.
Cummins is among a host of experienced players, including Josh Hazlewood, Glenn Maxwell, Tim David and Nathan Ellis, who have been rested for the Pakistan series to recover completely from injuries before the marquee event.
Australia, visiting Pakistan for the first time after mid 2022, though still have enough firepower to subdue the hosts with Travis Head, Cameron Green and Josh Inglis among the A-listers travelling for the three-match series, starting on Thursday, January 29.
Australia squad:
Mitchell Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Mahli Beardman, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitch Owen, Josh Philippe (wk), Matthew Renshaw, Matt Short, Marcus Stonis, Adam Zampa.
