Pakistan vs Australia T20I Series Preview – Jan 29, 2026

Series Preview

Pakistan and Australia are kicking off a three-match T20I series at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on January 29, 2026. Think of it as a warm-up for the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka, which starts just six days later. Pakistan’s bringing their A-team, but Australia’s a bit short-handed. This gives Pakistan a good chance to try out different lineups before the World Cup.

This series is happening at a weird time for Australia. Some of their big names are just getting back from the Big Bash League (BBL), and others are still nursing injuries. So, they’re using this series to get guys like Travis Head and Cameron Green ready, plus give some newbies like Mahli Beardman and Jack Edwards a shot.

Australia’s Situation

Australia’s got a lot of players missing. Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, and Josh Inglis are all out for the first T20I because of injuries or BBL stuff. Travis Head stepped up to captain for only the second time in a T20I, leading a pretty young and untested squad.

With Xavier Bartlett as their only main fast bowler, Australia’s gonna lean on spinners Adam Zampa and Matthew Kuhnemann to keep things tight. Head and Green need to hold the batting together, while guys like Edwards and Beardman will be trying to make a name for themselves.

Pakistan’s Ready to Go

Pakistan’s got their whole World Cup squad available, which includes Shaheen Shah Afridi back from a knee injury. Haris Rauf is out of the squad, which is a surprise seeing as he played so well in the BBL, but Pakistan still has a good mix of experience and youth.

All eyes will be on Captain Babar Azam. He didn’t have the greatest BBL, so Pakistan needs him to find his form and anchor the batting. Guys like Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, and Salman Agha will be there to back him up.

Pakistan might also give Khawaja Nafay some playing time to get him ready for the World Cup. And with Afridi and Naseem Shah leading the pace attack, Pakistan’s bowling should be dangerous, especially early on.

Players to Watch

Travis Head is key for Australia, both with his batting and his captaincy. He needs to score runs while keeping the pace up, especially since he won’t have much support from the other experienced guys. Cameron Green is valuable because he can do a bit of everything – bat at number four and bowl some seamers.

For Pakistan, everyone’s watching Babar Azam to see if he can bounce back after his BBL performance. Afridi’s pace will be important early on, and Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz need to control the middle overs against Australia’s inexperienced batters.

The Pitch

The Gaddafi Stadium pitch is usually flat and good for scoring runs. The outfield is a little slow because of some rain, but it should be consistent during the match. Games are starting at 4 pm local time to avoid any winter fog. Spinners might get some help from those slower patches in the outfield, which could change how teams play, especially for Australia, since they don’t have many fast bowling options.

How They’re Doing Lately

Pakistan’s been pretty good in T20Is, winning three of their last five series and not losing any of their last three. That confidence, plus having a settled squad, gives them an edge over Australia. Australia’s results have been mixed, winning three but losing two of their last five T20Is. They are struggling a bit because of rotating players and trying to balance BBL recovery with World Cup prep.

What People Are Talking About

The big question is what Babar Azam will do with the order of the batting. His slow scoring and disagreements with BBL teammates stirred controversy, but those questions have been addressed and the focus is on the collective team.

On the Australia side, choosing Head as captain has raised questions about leadership under pressure. With an inexperienced bowling attack and missing batters, the series will test Head’s ability to make good decisions.

What to Expect

Pakistan is expected to be strong with both bat and ball, while Australia will try to hang in there and hope someone has a great game. Fast runs to begin with and tight overs from the spin guys might be what decides the first T20I.

My Thoughts

Pakistan is definitely the favorite because they have a full-strength squad and a well-balanced team. If Babar Azam gets going, Pakistan could win the first and second matches, and possibly win the series.

Australia is using this series to prepare . Travis Head and Cameron Green will probably lead from the front, and new players like Mahli Beardman and Jack Edwards could get some valuable experience. Australia might not win the first T20I, but the series can give them a chance to assess the talent.

If the young Australian batters play well against Pakistan’s pace and spin, the match could be close. How Travis Head handles the team and changes strategy will show a lot about his leadership.. Cameron Green could play a big part in Australia’s chances, especially in a close game.

What’s Next?

Looking ahead, Pakistan will continue to go hard, relying on Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Shadab Khan. Young guys like Khawaja Nafay may get more chances to play.

Australia will try different batting orders and bowling combinations. Travis Head’s leadership and Cameron Green’s ability to do everything will be key, and Mahli Beardman’s debut could find a hidden talent . The series provide insights into how they will align their World Cup combinations rather than giving them definitive outcomes.

Overall, Pakistan looks likely to win the series, but Australia can use it to get ready for the World Cup in Sri Lanka, especially adapting to the conditions there.