By Asif Naveed
LAHORE (MNN); The Australian cricket team reached Lahore on Wednesday to begin their T20 International tour of Pakistan as part of preparations for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup scheduled in February.
This marks Australia’s third tour of Pakistan. The two sides previously faced each other in a three-match Test series and an ODI series in March–April 2022, followed by a single T20I at Gaddafi Stadium, which Australia won by three wickets. Australia also played three matches of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
According to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), all three T20I matches will be played at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on January 29, January 31 and February 1.
Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, Australian captain Mitchell Marsh praised Pakistan’s bowling strength and said his team was excited about the challenge of playing in Pakistani conditions ahead of the World Cup.
“Pakistan has a great history of producing fast bowlers, and we are really looking forward to that challenge,” Marsh said. He specifically mentioned Shaheen Shah Afridi, calling him an outstanding bowler and a major test for the Australian batting lineup.
Marsh added that the tour was crucial for Australia’s World Cup preparations, noting that a few squad members would join the team later in Sri Lanka due to fitness and training schedules.
Five senior Australian players – Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Glenn Maxwell, Tim David and Nathan Ellis – have been rested for the series.
Commenting on Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam, Marsh said Australia had great respect for him, describing Babar as a world-class player who remains highly effective in home conditions.
On the Pakistani side, Salman Ali Agha said teams should not be judged as big or small at the international level. He stressed that Pakistan’s focus remained on improving their own performance and executing plans effectively.
Agha also said the series was important for Pakistan’s preparations, adding that pitches had been prepared to resemble Sri Lankan conditions. He dismissed the idea that the absence of some Australian senior players made the series an easy opportunity for Pakistan.
