The three-match T20 International between Pakistan and Australia begins today at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Australia team is visiting Pakistan again after ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
The three matches of the series will be played on February 29, 31 and 1. A 17-member Australian team led by captain Mitchell Marsh arrived in Pakistan yesterday.
Jack Edwards, Josh Phillip, Mahily Beardman, Matthew Kuhneman and Xavier Bartlett from the Australian team are visiting Pakistan for the first time, while Beardman and Edwards are yet to make their debut in international cricket.
On the other hand, the 16-member Pakistan team has been in Lahore since January 25 and apart from training, the T20 team has also played against each other.
Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi returned to the national team after missing the series against Sri Lanka. Babar Azam is the highest run-scorer in T20 Internationals and Shaheen Shah Afridi is the second highest run-scorer for Pakistan.
According to the statistics, the two teams have met 28 times in T20 Internationals so far, with Australia winning 14 matches and Pakistan winning 12 matches, including one match without a result. 9 bilateral T20 series have been played between the two countries, in which Pakistan won 4 and Australia won 5 series.
On this, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha said that the team has been preparing for the series for the last ten days. He said that no team is weak in T20 cricket and the presence of experienced players plays an important role in winning the series.
Australia captain Mitchell Marsh termed the T20 series against Pakistan as very important for the preparation of the upcoming World Cup and said that he is very happy to come and play in Pakistan.
Mitchell Marsh said that this series will be the best preparation for the team before the World Cup. He said that Pakistan’s fast bowling tradition is very impressive and he is especially looking forward to facing Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Pakistan group of 16 people under the leadership of Salman Ali Akha from Ebrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhr Zaman, Khawaja Muhammad Nafi, Muhammad Nawaz, Muhammad Salman Mirza, Muhammad Wasim Jr., Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Ayfri, Shaha, Sahibzada Ayfri, Shahab, Sahibzada, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhr Zaman, Muhammad Salman Mirza, Muhammad Wasim Jr. Usman Tariq and Usman Khan.
