PCB has announced a 16-member Pakistan squad for the three-match T20I series against Australia at Gaddafi Stadium, with Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi returning ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026.
Series Schedule and Context
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed a 16-member national squad for the upcoming three-match T20 International series against Australia, to be played at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.
The series will be held on 29 and 31 January and 1 February, with all three matches starting at 4:00 PM Pakistan Standard Time and the toss scheduled for half an hour earlier. The contest marks only Australia’s second T20I series on Pakistani soil and will be a key part of both teams’ preparation plans for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka.
Australia’s tour will be their third visit to Pakistan since their historic return in March–April 2022, when they played a full Test, ODI and T20I series. They also featured in three ICC Champions Trophy 2025 matches hosted in Pakistan, underlining the strengthening cricketing ties between the two sides.
Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi Return to T20I Fold
Two of Pakistan’s biggest stars, former captain Babar Azam and left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, return to the T20I squad after missing the recent three-match series against Sri Lanka, which ended in a 1–1 draw.
Their inclusion is expected to add both experience and match-winning quality to the side. Babar remains one of the world’s leading T20 batters, capable of anchoring the innings and accelerating when needed, while Shaheen is central to Pakistan’s new-ball plans with his ability to swing the ball at high pace.
Team management will be keen to use the Australia series to give both players meaningful game time before finalising roles and combinations for the World Cup, where Pakistan have been drawn in Group A alongside India, the USA, the Netherlands and Namibia.
Salman Ali Agha to Lead, Strong Spin and Pace Options
Middle-order batter Salman Ali Agha has been named captain for the series, continuing his recent rise as a leader in the national setup. He will have a balanced squad at his disposal, featuring a mix of seasoned campaigners and in-form performers.
All-rounder Shadab Khan is set to play a key role in Pakistan’s spin attack as he continues his comeback. He will be supported by mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed, left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz and Usman Tariq, giving the team a variety of options on surfaces that could assist slower bowling.
On the pace front, Pakistan have retained depth and firepower with Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Faheem Ashraf and Mohammad Salman Mirza all in the mix. This blend of left-arm pace, swing, seam and all-round ability is likely to be central to Pakistan’s plans against a powerful Australian batting lineup.
Full 16-Member Squad Announced by PCB
The PCB has named the following 16 players for the three T20Is against Australia:
Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Usman Khan (wk), Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Saim Ayub and Usman Tariq.
The squad and player support staff will assemble in Lahore on Saturday, with training sessions scheduled to begin the following day. Coaches are expected to focus on powerplay strategies, death bowling plans and batting finishing roles, areas that will be critical in both this series and the upcoming global tournament.
Head-to-Head Record and World Cup Build-Up
Historically, contests between Pakistan and Australia in the T20 format have been closely fought. The two sides have met 28 times in T20 Internationals, with Australia winning 14 matches and Pakistan claiming 12 victories, while one game ended in a tie and another produced no result.
Their last T20I clash at Gaddafi Stadium was played on 5 April 2022, when Australia edged Pakistan by three wickets in a tight finish. With a full series now scheduled at the same venue, both teams will be looking to fine-tune their tactics and test bench strength under pressure.
For Pakistan, the home series offers an important chance to stabilise combinations, clarify batting orders and settle on a bowling attack that can adapt to different conditions in India and Sri Lanka. For Australia, it is a rare opportunity to gain more experience in Pakistani conditions against a side that traditionally excels at home.
With the T20 World Cup 2026 set to run from 7 February to 8 March, the three games in Lahore are likely to be watched closely by selectors and fans as an early indicator of form, fitness and tactical clarity for both teams.
