LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board announced a 16-player squad for a three-match T20I series against Australia, to take place at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore from Jan 29 to Feb 1.
These tournaments will offer a rare contest of T20Is on Pakistani soil, as only one previous T20I was played in Pakistan as far back as April last year when Australia last visited. Matches have also been scheduled to start at 4:00 pm as usual, but the toss will take place at 3:30 pm.
Babar Azam, as well as the pace sensation Shaheen Shah Afridi, return after missing the away contest involving a three-match series against Sri Lanka earlier this month. These players add depth to the Pakistani pace arsenal as well as leadership skills.
Shadab Khan, who looked impressive with his strong return in the last cycle of the T20I series, is expected to maintain his leadership behind the spin bowling department along with Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, and Usman Tariq.
Sources from the PCB said the squad and staff will converge in Lahore on Saturday, January 24th. Meanwhile, the Australian team is set to arrive in Pakistan on Wednesday, January 28th.
The series also gives Pakistan a chance to show its home strength as they prepare for an upcoming international event. Many people feel that the home coming of Babar and Shaheen will bring a boost, while experienced spin options will add depth to the bowling roster.
They also emphasized that all biosecure measures would be implemented to ensure players and staff safety during this period of health concerns.
This T20I series once again emphasizes Pakistan’s efforts to stage cricket at home with the intention of reinforcing their position as a safe home ground for international cricket.
