LAHORE (Kashmir English): Travis Head is likely to captain Australia in the first T20I of the three-match series against Pakistan at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, with regular skipper Mitchell Marsh expected to be rested.
Australian media reported that Marsh and wicketkeeper Josh Inglis are unlikely to feature in the first white-ball match as they arrived in Pakistan today, a day before the first T20I.
Mitchell Marsh arrived late in Pakistan because of his Big Bash League (BBL), where he played the final match for the Perth Scorchers against the Sydney Sixers on Sunday.
In Marsh’s absence, Head will take on the captaincy for just the second time in his career, having previously led Australia in a T20 against England in Cardiff in 2024.
Australia is already without the services of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Tim David, and Nathan Ellis, all sidelined due to injury. Glenn Maxwell has been rested as he prepares for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which starts next week.
The second and third T20Is will also be played at the same venue on January 31 and February 1, respectively.
The series will offer vital match practice for both teams ahead of the T20 World Cup, which will be held in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8.
Australia 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 Stoinis, and Adam Zampa.
Pakistan squad: Salman Ali Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk) and Usman Tariq.
