Australia cricket team will be led by explosive opener Travis Head in the PAK vs AUS 1st T20I on Thursday as both teams gear up for the T20 World Cup 2026. The three-match series will get underway from 4.30 PM IST onwards and will take place at the Gaddafi stadium in Lahore. Australia will be without the services of a host of stars players in the 1st T20I, with Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Tim David, Nathan Ellis among others set to miss the fixture.
Australia announce playing XI for PAK vs AUS 1st T20I
Travis Head (c)
Matthew Short
Cameron Green
Matthew Renshaw
Cooper Connolly
Mitchell Owen
Josh Philippe
Jack Edwards
Xavier Bartlett
Adam Zampa
Mahli Beardman
On bench: Mitchell Marsh, Sean Abott, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marcus Stoinis, Ben Dwarshuis
Marsh, Australia’s captain for the T20 World Cup 2026, has been rested for the PAK vs AUS 1st T20I as he arrived in Pakistan just 48 hours ago. The unavailability of majority of the star players has paved way for three Australians to make thier T20I debuts on Thursday. Renshaw, Beardman and Edwards have been named in the playing XI, and have been rewarded for their performances in the recently concluded Big Bash League (BBL).
Australia, however, will be hoping for their star players to recover from their injuries soon as the World Cup is barely 10 days away. They will be without the services of experienced campaigners like Tim David, Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell in Lahore on Thursday. The three debutants named in the playing XI aren’t a part of the WC squad and hence will be looking to impress the selectors with their performances in the 1st T20I.
Australia squad for Pakistan series
Mitch 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, Matt Short, Marcus Stonis, Adam Zampa
