Australia will take the field without several of their biggest T20 stars in the opening match of the three-game T20I series against Pakistan, with Travis Head set to lead the side in the absence of regular captain Mitchell Marsh.
The first T20I will be played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Thursday, with the contest scheduled to begin at 4:30 PM IST. The series serves as crucial preparation for both teams ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, but Australia will be forced to cope without key names including Glenn Maxwell, Tim David, Nathan Ellis and Marcus Stoinis.
Travis Head to captain depleted Australia in series opener
Australia have named a youthful and experimental XI for the opening encounter, handing T20I debuts to Matthew Renshaw, Mahli Beardman and Jack Edwards following their impressive performances in the recently concluded Big Bash League.
Mitchell Marsh, who will captain Australia at the upcoming World Cup, has been rested for the first T20I after arriving in Pakistan just 48 hours before the match. The absence of several senior players has opened the door for fringe and uncapped players to stake their claim.
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Australia playing XI – 1st T20I vs Pakistan:
Travis Head (c), Matthew Short, Cameron Green, Matthew Renshaw, Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Owen, Josh Philippe, Jack Edwards, Xavier Bartlett, Adam Zampa, Mahli Beardman
Bench: Mitchell Marsh, Sean Abbott, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marcus Stoinis, Ben Dwarshuis
While the debutants named in the XI are not part of Australia’s provisional T20 World Cup squad, the match presents a valuable opportunity to impress selectors, especially with the global tournament just 10 days away.
Australia will be hopeful that their senior players return to full fitness soon, with experienced campaigners like Maxwell, David and Stoinis expected to be key figures in their World Cup campaign once available.
