Pakistan handed Australia the worst possible end to their T20 World Cup warm-up as the Mitchell Marsh-led side slipped to their heaviest T20 international defeat to complete a third straight collapse. A 3-0 sweep of Australia just days before the FIFA World Cup was always bigger than most bilateral results. The scenes reflected that. With the stands packed, the fans celebrating as if the trophy was already secured, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif tweeted enthusiastically twice and PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi entered the dressing room to congratulate the players.
It looked and felt like a statement. But once the immediate emotions wear off, the series speaks as much about Australia’s preparation as it does about Pakistan’s momentum. Australia were defeated convincingly, but the circumstances were far from clear cut. They lost all three tosses, batting second each time, and struggled against Pakistan’s spinners in the chase. It was dominance written all over the scoreboard. Behind the scenes, it was a tour shaped by rotation and caution. Australia suffered a series defeat against Pakistan in their T20 World Cup build-up. (Photo: AP)
Australia traveled with half a squad and a clear focus on workload management. Glenn Maxwell, Tim David, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Ellis stayed at home to recover from injuries before rejoining the team in Sri Lanka. Marsh, Travis Head and Xavier Bartlett have played just two matches, while Josh Inglis, Marcus Stoinis and Ben Dwarshuis have only featured once. The priority was protecting key players rather than chasing a short-term result.
Pakistan, on the other hand, has fully committed. Their spinners dominated the middle overs, their batsmen played freely and confidence grew with each Australian collapse. The celebrations matched the mood and the streak was conceived as a marker of progress.
But context matters, especially when it comes to Australia.
WHAT DOES HISTORY SAY?
In the 2024 T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies, Australia were knocked out at the Super Eights stage after defeats to Afghanistan and India, a campaign that fell short of expectations. After two years, the emphasis is on the correct setting. The core of the team remains intact, with Pat Cummins the most notable absentee due to a lingering back injury, while Mitchell Starc’s departure from T20 internationals has reshaped the attack, although experience still defines the side.
Australia losing the series just before the World Cup has long ceased to be a red flag and has instead become a familiar pattern. From the 2007 ODI World Cup to the 2021 T20 World Cup and from the 2023 Test World Cup final to the 2023 ODI World Cup, Australia has repeatedly entered global tournaments on the back of defeats only to go on to lift the trophy. Pre-tournament stumbles have mostly been matched by silverware, so such losses are less of a cause for panic and more a matter of timing.
AUSTRALIA AMONG THE FAVORITES
Still, Australia will start the T20 World Cup 2026 as favourites. Since the last edition, they have won 17 and lost just seven of the 24 completed matches. That record stood at 17 wins from 21 before the recent 3-0 loss in Lahore to a depleted team.
The absence of Cummins opened the door for Ben Dwarshuis, while the side continues to lean heavily on its all-rounder depth. Former captain Ricky Ponting believes balance remains Australia’s biggest strength heading into the tournament. Travis Head remains one of Australia’s biggest strengths in the T20 World Cup. (Photo: AP)
The Pakistan series also served a practical purpose. This allowed Australia to spend time in South Asian conditions ahead of Sri Lanka in the World Cup. Cameron Green has been tried at No.3 in the first two matches and is expected to retain that role, while Marsh and Travis Head continue their aggressive partnership at the top of the order.
A familiar older core remains, now supported by Green, Josh Inglis and Nathan Ellis as regular selections. With Cummins unavailable and Starc no longer part of the T20 set-up, new pace options are emerging, with Xavier Bartlett set to feature in his first World Cup. Green could add with both bat and ball for Australia. (Photo: AP)
Australia have also strengthened their spin department. Along with Adam Zampa and Glenn Maxwell, lefties Matthew Kuhnemann and Cooper Connolly provide variety. Connolly arrives after a productive Big Bash League campaign with the Perth Scorchers.
AUSTRALIA’S BEST PREDICTED XI
Mitchell Marsh (capt), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis (week), Tim David, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
GROUPS OF AUSTRALIA
Australia opened their campaign on February 11 against Ireland. They were drawn in Group B along with Ireland, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and Oman.
T20 World Cup | T20 World Cup Schedule | T20 World Cup Points Table | T20 World Cup Videos | Cricket News | Live Score
- February 11: Ireland, Colombo (3pm local time)
- February 13: Zimbabwe, Colombo (11am local time)
- February 16: Sri Lanka, Pallekele (19:00 local time)
- February 20: Oman, Pallekele (19:00 local time)
– The end
Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
February 4, 2026
