Haris Rauf is not part of either squad, despite his strong BBL form, a decision that has attracted attention in Australia.
A lot of attention will also be paid to Babar Azam, who endured a difficult BBL season with a strike rate of 103.06 in 11 innings. How he fits into Pakistan’s batting line-up, which aimed to generate more momentum in the recent series against Sri Lanka, remains a key point of discussion. With all three matches in Lahore, Pakistan will be hoping that the familiar conditions will help them build momentum ahead of the World Cup.
Australia’s playing XI for the series opener reflects a mixture of experience and experimentation. Alongside captain Travis Head, the squad includes Matthew Short, Cameron Green, Matthew Renshaw, Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Owen, Josh Philippe, Jack Edwards, Xavier Bartlett, Adam Zampa and Mahli Beardman.
Bartlett is the only fast bowler from Australia’s T20 World Cup squad to be in Pakistan, highlighting the limited overlap between the touring party and the squad for the global event. The series is used as individual preparation for players like Head and Green who missed the Big Bash after the Ashes, while also giving opportunities to younger players.
With three matches in four days, Australia will be looking for clarity of roles rather than immediate results, especially with key World Cup players set to join the squad closer to the tournament in Sri Lanka.
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