NEW DELHI: While Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the team's victory over Australia in the first T20I as "electrifying", the country's cricketing fraternity, on the other hand, expressed concern over the growing trend of visiting SENA teams resting or leaving out key players for tours of Pakistan.

Australia have opted to rest several of their T20 World Cup-bound stars - Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Tim David, Glenn Maxwell and Nathan Ellis - for the ongoing three-match preparatory series in Pakistan.

The visitors explained that the decision was taken to manage workloads, with the players recently returning from injuries and being given extra recovery time ahead of the T20 World Cup, which begins on February 7.

Australia also handed debuts to three players in the opening T20I on Thursday, while regular captain Mitchell Marsh, seasoned all-rounder Marcus Stoinis, wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis, and frontline pacers Scott Abbott and Ben Dwarshuis were left out of the playing XI.

The absence of so many established names has sparked debate within Pakistan's cricketing circles, with questions being raised over the seriousness with which Australia are approaching the series.

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"They come here already without some of their main players and for the first match they don't play their best players in the touring squad. I see it as an insult to Pakistan cricket fans," cricket analyst and writer, Omair Alavi said.

Former Pakistan Test captain Moin Khan acknowledged that Australia were prioritising the fitness of their players ahead of the T20 World Cup, but warned that such an approach was proving detrimental to Pakistan cricket.

"In recent times we have seen New Zealand, South Africa, Australia come with weakened teams to Pakistan. It is as if they are fullfilling their formality to play a series," he said.

Former Test batter and chief selector, Haroon Rasheed said whatever team Australia fielded Pakistan had a good opportunity to win the series against them and should now shy away from playing their best eleven.

"It is a bit perplexing coming to play a three match series so close to the World Cup and not fielding your best players when they have to play in similar conditions in the tournament," he said.

Australia are visiting Pakistan for the first time since 2022 for any format.

A source close to the PCB said the packed international calendar and growing number of leagues have prompted teams to rest key players for more important matches and tournaments.

"What team or players these countries send is not our concern. Being a bilateral series the main thing for us is commitments are fulfilled on time," he added.