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On January 23, Pakistan announced their T20I squad for the Australia series, a 16-member group that serves as the final testing ground before the T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka. This high-stakes series, set to begin on January 29 at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, marks a pivotal moment for a team looking to stabilize its identity under the leadership of Salman Ali Agha. With the World Cup opener against the Netherlands just weeks away, the selectors have made bold calls that emphasize a shift toward fresh talent while welcoming back veteran pillars who are under immense pressure to perform.
PAK vs AUS, T20I series: The return of Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi under scrutiny
The selection committee has placed its faith in the senior duo with return of Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi, both of whom missed the recent assignment in Sri Lanka. Their comeback is laced with urgency; Babar returns after a statistically disappointing stint in the Big Bash League, where his strike rate of 103.06 became a major talking point among critics. Similarly, Shaheen is back to lead the pace attack after a knee ligament injury cut his BBL campaign short, raising questions about his match fitness for the grueling World Cup schedule. For both players, the three matches in Lahore represent a critical final audition to silence doubters and solidify their roles within a tactical system that now prioritizes aggressive, high-intent cricket over traditional anchors.
PAK vs AUS, T20I series: Surprise omissions of two experienced campaigners
The most striking aspect of the squad is the continued exclusion of Mohammad Rizwan and Haris Rauf, signaling a potential change in the guard. Despite Haris dominating the Big Bash League as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 20 scalps, selectors have reportedly looked past him due to his expensive death-over performances in previous international outings. Rizwan’s omission is equally significant, as it clears the path for Khawaja Nafay to take over the gloves as the primary wicketkeeper-batter following his impressive debut. This decision reflects a desire to move toward a more dynamic middle order, leaving the future of two of Pakistan’s most consistent T20 performers in recent years hanging in the balance as the World Cup roster is finalized.
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PAK vs AUS, T20I series: Final preparations and the spin strategy
Pakistan announced their T20I squad with a heavy emphasis on spin, naming a four-pronged attack consisting of Shadab Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz and the uncapped Usman Tariq. This selection clearly anticipates the turning tracks of Chennai and Colombo, where Pakistan will play their major World Cup fixtures. With Australia scheduled to arrive in Lahore on January 28, the series offers captain Salman Ali a final chance to fine-tune his bowling rotations and settle on a permanent opening pair. As the only team among the favorites to delay their final 15-member World Cup announcement, Pakistan are using this Australian challenge to identify which of their 16 players can handle the pressure of a global tournament starting February 7.
Pakistan T20I squad for the three-match series against Australia
Salman Ali Agha (c), 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) Usman Tariq
