Australia vs Pakistan T20I Series: The T20 World Cup 2026 is set to begin on February 7th. Before this major tournament, the Australian team will play a three-match T20 series against Pakistan. The Pakistani team will be looking to further solidify their preparations through this series. Australia has announced its squad for this T20 series, giving opportunities to several young players. The T20 series will commence on January 29th.
Twenty-year-old fast bowler Mahli Beardman has been included in Australia's squad for the upcoming T20 series against Pakistan. Jack Edwards is also part of the team. Both players could get a chance to make their international debut in this series. Beardman and all-rounder Edwards have performed well for Perth Scorchers and Sydney Sixers respectively in the ongoing BBL season, which has earned them this opportunity. Beardman was part of the T20I squad against India earlier this season, while Edwards was briefly part of the ODI squad.
"The series is a great opportunity for those on the brink of selection and some young players we rate highly for valuable experience with the World Cup group in Pakistan," Australia's Chair of Selectors George Bailey said.
“Some are already experienced international players (while) Mahli Beardman has been with the group a number of times and Jack Edwards joined (the squad) for the last one-day match against India in Sydney last year.”
No Place for Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell
Steve Smith has scored runs at a strike rate of over 176 in the three matches he has played so far in the current Big Bash League season. He has scored 173 runs in these three matches, including one century and one half-century, with 10 sixes and 11 fours. However, despite this outstanding performance, he has been dropped from the team.
Regarding his hopes of playing in the T20 World Cup for Australia, Smith had already stated that he felt his opportunity had passed and that there was nothing he could do about it now.
Besides Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell has also been rested for the T20 series against Pakistan. Maxwell is Australia's leading six-hitter in T20 Internationals, with 148 sixes. Despite this, his exclusion from the team before the T20 World Cup speaks volumes.
His poor performance in the current Big Bash League season is a major reason behind this. In his last six Big Bash innings, Maxwell has only crossed the double-digit mark once, when he remained unbeaten on 20 runs. In three other innings, he was dismissed after scoring just one run each, while in another he scored 3 runs, and in one match he didn't even get a chance to bat.
Australia T20I Squad: 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.
PAK vs AUS T20I Series Schedule
January 29 - First Match: Pakistan vs Australia, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, 6:30 PM
January 31 - Second Match: Pakistan vs Australia, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, 6:30 PM
February 1 - Third Match: Pakistan vs Australia, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, 6:30 PM.
