Pakistan’s T20I squad has been significantly bolstered by the return of star players Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi for the upcoming three-match series against Australia, which commences on Thursday at the Gaddafi Stadium.
The touring Australian side, led by Mitchell Marsh, arrived in the city on Wednesday for their first visit since the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025. The three Twenty20 Internationals are scheduled for 29 and 31 January, with the final encounter on 1 February.
The home side welcomes back two of its most accomplished performers. Babar Azam, the all-time leading run-scorer in T20I history, and Shaheen Shah Afridi, Pakistan’s second-highest wicket-taker in the format, both return to the national setup after missing the series against Sri Lanka earlier this month.
Australia’s 17-member contingent includes five players visiting Pakistan for the first time: Jack Edwards, Josh Philippe, Mahli Beardman, Matthew Kuhnemann, and Xavier Bartlett. Of these, Beardman and Edwards are yet to make their international debuts.
Under the captaincy of Salman Ali Agha, the 16-member Pakistan squad assembled in Lahore on 25 January. Their preparations have included rigorous training sessions and a solitary scenario-based T20 practice match on Monday.
Historically, the bilateral rivalry is closely contested. In 28 T20I meetings since 2007, Australia holds a narrow 14-12 advantage. The visitors also won the last T20I played between the two nations at the Gaddafi Stadium in April 2022. Across nine bilateral series, Australia has secured five victories to Pakistan’s four.
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha stated that the team is well-prepared, emphasising that there are no weak opponents in T20 cricket. “Our focus is on executing our plans and playing smart, quality cricket. Having the experienced and senior players in the group is vital, it makes a big difference when you are trying to win a series,” he said.
His counterpart, Mitchell Marsh, viewed the series as crucial preparation for the World Cup. “I’m really excited to be here,” he remarked. “Pakistan have a great tradition of fast bowling and I’m looking forward to facing Shaheen Shah Afridi. Winning away from home is always tough, especially in these conditions, but that’s exactly what makes it a great challenge for us.”
All matches in the series will begin at 4 pm PKT, with the coin toss scheduled for 3:30 pm PKT at the Gaddafi Stadium.