Australian Men’s Cricket Team vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Match: Pakistan captain Salman Agha won the toss and elected to bat against Australia in the first T20I of the three-match series at Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday, January 29, 2026.
Shaheen Shah Afridi returns to the Pakistan side after recovering from a knee ligament injury sustained during the Big Bash League. Salman Mirza is the only other pace bowler in the lineup. Babar Azam, coming off an indifferent BBL season, will bat at number three.
Australia field a new-look team under captain Travis Head, with three players making their T20I debuts — batter Matt Renshaw, all-rounder Jack Edwards, and fast bowler Mahli Beardman.
The visitors have played just one T20I in Pakistan, a victory in April 2022. The series provides both teams with a last opportunity to adjust and strengthen their squads ahead of the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
PAK vs AUS, 1st T20I Playing XIs
Australia (Playing XI): Travis Head(c), Matthew Short, Cameron Green, Matt Renshaw, Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Owen, Josh Philippe(w), Jack Edwards, Xavier Bartlett, Adam Zampa, Mahli Beardman
Pakistan (Playing XI): Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Salman Agha(c), Fakhar Zaman, Usman Khan(w), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Salman Mirza, Abrar Ahmed
