Australia will rest five top players, including Pat Cummins and Glenn Maxwell, for a three-match Twenty20 series in Pakistan ahead of the World Cup, the selectors announced on Monday.
Josh Hazlewood, Tim David and Nathan Ellis will also skip the series which begins later this month.
Their absence has opened the door for fringe players Sean Abbott, Mahli Beardman, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Mitch Owen, Josh Phillippe and Matt Renshaw to join the 17-man squad.
Chief selector George Bailey said all five were either returning from injury or having their charges managed ahead of the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka which begins on February 7.
“The series is a great opportunity for those who are close to being selected and for some young players who we rate highly for their valuable experience,” he added.
“Some are already experienced international players, like Mahli Beardman who has been part of the squad on several occasions, and Jack Edwards who joined them for the final one-day match against India in Sydney last year.”
Australia will face Pakistan in Lahore on January 29, 31 and February 1, before traveling to Sri Lanka where they are expected to open their World Cup campaign against Ireland in Colombo on February 11.
Australian team: Mitchell Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Mahli Beardman, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitch Owen, Josh Philippe, Matthew Renshaw, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
