LAHORE: Australia on Thursday confirmed their playing XI for the first T20I of the three-match T20I series against Pakistan at the Gaddafi Stadium.
Opener Travis Head will lead the side in the series opener as regular skipper Mitchell Marsh has been rested to manage his workload.
Marsh, who recently played the entire Big Bash League (BBL) season for Perth Scorchers, joined the squad late in Pakistan after playing the season finale.
Mahli Beardman and Jack Edwards will make their international debuts in the tournament, while Matthew Renshaw will make his T20 debut for Australia.
The 29-year-old left-handed batsman has represented Australia in 14 Tests and three ODIs since making his international debut in 2016, but Thursday’s match will mark his first appearance in the shorter format.
The second and third T20Is of the series are scheduled on January 31 and February 1 at the same venue. The toss for each match will be held at 5:30pm PKT, with the first ball scheduled for 6:00pm PKT.
The series provides crucial match practice for both teams ahead of the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8.
Group A has Pakistan along with India, USA, Netherlands and Namibia and Group B has Australia along with Sri Lanka, Ireland, Zimbabwe and Oman.
The series marks Australia’s third tour to Pakistan after March-April 2022, when they played a historic Test series, followed by an ODI series and a T20I.
On 5 April 2022, the Kangaroos played three matches in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, including a three-wicket T20 win over Pakistan at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Historically, Australia and Pakistan have faced each other 28 times in T20 Internationals, with Australia winning 14, Pakistan 12, one match ending in a tie and the other inconclusive.
Australia Playing XI vs Pakistan:
Travis Head (c), Matt Short, Cameron Green, Matthew Renshaw, Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Owen, Josh Phillip, Jack Edwards, Xavier Bartlett, Mahli Beardman and Adam Zamba.