Pakistan will face Australia in the third and final T20I of the series at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Sunday, February 1. Pakistan have already sealed the series with a 2-0 lead and will be aiming to finish with a clean sweep.

The hosts have completely controlled the series so far. Pakistan won the first match by 22 runs and then followed it up with an enormous victory of 90 runs in the second match. Their batting and bowling attack have been performing well, and this has given them immense confidence before the T20 World Cup in 2026. They will hope to keep up the same level of intensity and finish the series on a positive note.

Australia, meanwhile, have been struggling to get into form in the opening two matches. The team has been trying different combinations as part of their World Cup preparations. The visitors will now look to avoid a whitewash and perform better in the final match.

PAK vs AUS Head-to-Head (T20Is)

• Matches Played: 30
• Pakistan Won: 15
• Australia Won: 14
• No Result: 1

PAK vs AUS: Pitch Report

The Gaddafi Stadium surface generally assists batsmen. It has enough bounce to enable fast bowlers to get pace and batters to play their shots. However, as the match progresses, the pitch can slow down, which helps spinners and pacers during the middle overs. The average first-innings score in last season was 162, which added to the competitiveness of matches. 

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PAK vs AUS: Predicted Playing XIs

Pakistan (PAK):

Salman Agha (c), Saim Ayub, Usman Khan (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Sahibzada Farhan, Babar Azam, Shadab Khan, Naseem Shah, Usman Tariq, Abrar Ahmed

Australia (AUS):

Mitchell Marsh (c), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis (wk), Matthew Short, Matt Renshaw, Cooper Connolly, Xavier Bartlett, Sean Abbott, Matthew Kuhnemann, Adam Zampa

The Australian side has faced a massive setback as their ODI World Cup-winning captain, Pat Cummins, has been ruled out of the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka, scheduled to begin on February 07 where they will begin their campaign on February 11 against Ireland at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

Their veteran batter, Steve Smith, who has gone through a strong performance in the Big Bash League (BBL) 2025/26 after completing the home Test summer, has continued to be left out in the batting line-up. This highlights the boldness of their decision to have Pat Cummins ready for the Ashes.

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Sydney Sixers’ left-arm pacer, Ben Dwarshuis, has been drafted into the final 15-member squad, as has Matthew Renshaw, who comes in at the expense of Matthew Short, who has paid the price for a moderate performance in the Big Bash League (BBL).  

Pat Cummins ruled out of T20 World Cup 2026

Cummins has picked up 66 wickets in 57 T20I innings at an average of 23.57 and a strike rate of 19 and an economy rate of 7.44, thanks to the best bowling figures of 3/15 in an innings. His experience of playing in the IPL and India will be missed by the national side.

“With Pat needing more time to recover from his back injury. Ben is a ready replacement who offers a left-arm pace option as well as dynamic fielding and late-order hitting. We believe his ability to swing the ball at a good pace, along with clever variations, will be well-suited to the conditions we expect and overall structure of the squad.” The selector Tony Dodemaide reacted to the omission of Cummins.

“With the top order settled and spin-heavy conditions expected in the pool stages in Sri Lanka, we also feel Matt provides extra middle-order support, with Tim David completing his return-to-play Programme in the early phase of the tournament.” He informed.

Australia’s confirmed squad for T20 World Cup 2026

Mitch Marsh (c), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Tim David, Matthew Renshaw, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa, Cooper Connolly, Matt Kuhnemann, Xavier Bartlett.

Pakistan and Australia meet again for the second T20I of the three-match series at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Saturday, January 31. Pakistan head into the game with confidence after taking a 1–0 lead in the series.

In the first T20I, Pakistan showed a balanced performance to defeat Australia by 22 runs. After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, Pakistan scored total of 168/8 despite losing an early wicket. Saim Ayub and Salman Agha stabilized the innings with good knocks. Usman Khan and Mohammad Nawaz scored late runs to take the total to a fighting score. Adam Zampa was the best bowler for Australia with four wickets.

Australia began their innings strongly but lost their rhythm once the ball became softer. Pakistan’s spinners dominated the middle order, with Abrar Ahmed bowling an economical spell and taking crucial wickets. Australia could not recover and were restricted to 146/8, losing the match. Australia will try to bounce back and keep the series alive, while Pakistan will try to provide another impressive spin bowling performance to take an unassailable lead.

PAK vs AUS: Head-to-Head Record (T20Is)

• Matches Played: 29
• Pakistan Won: 14
• Australia Won: 14
• No Result: 1

PAK vs AUS: Pitch Report

The pitch in Lahore offered good help to spinners in the first T20I. Once the ball got older, scoring became tough and timing the shots was not easy. Batters may need to play patiently, while spinners are expected to stay in the game again. Winning the toss and reading the conditions early could be crucial.

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PAK vs AUS: Predicted Playing XIs

Pakistan (PAK):

Babar Azam, Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Usman Khan (WK), Salman Agha (C), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Salman Mirza, Abrar Ahmed

Australia (AUS):

Travis Head (C), Matthew Short, Cameron Green, Matt Renshaw, Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Owen, Josh Philippe (WK), Jack Edwards, Xavier Bartlett, Adam Zampa, Mahli Beardman

The former World Cup winning Australia captain, Ricky Ponting, has noted that Steve Smith’s numbers are better than anyone else in the countries T20 cricket at the moment and if the team suffers an injury set back during the T20 World Cup 2026 campaign, then Smith might be called up to replace him in the squad after strong performance in the Big Bash League (BBL) 2025/26.

The 36-year-old Steve Smith has overall smashed 1094 runs in 55 T20 innings at an average of Justice under twenty 5 when a striker of 125.45 with the help of five half centuries at the best score of 90 with his last T20 I clash for the national side coming in Auckland two years ago.

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“His numbers stack up better than anybody else's. But when you've been out, and the side's had some success, and Travis Head and Mitch Marsh are the incumbents, it's hard to push one of those two guys out of an opening slot.” Ponting expressed in a chat on ICC.

Ricky Ponting wants Steve Smith to feature in T20 World Cup 2026 

After finishing the Test summer for the national side, Smith returned to the Big Bash League (BBL) for the Sydney Sixers with one short of 300 runs in six innings at an average of nearly 60 and a strike rate of 167.97, with the help of one century and two half-centuries at the best score of 100 runs.

“And poor Steve has probably been pigeonholed as an opening batsman only in the T20 game, which probably has held him back a little bit in the last few years as far as selection is concerned. But he's only one little injury away. He's the next cab off the rank, and he's ready to go.” Ponting explained in the discussion.

Smith can be vital while opening the batting for Australia in the shortest format and use the power play with full power and execution, which will be very vital in this tournament for the 2021 T20 champions, as he can be brutal with Travis Head in the opening slot of the shortest format.

Pakistan will host Australia in the first T20I of the three-match series at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Thursday, January 29. Both teams begin a fresh contest and will be keen to start the series with a win.

Pakistan come into this series after a short tour of Sri Lanka, where a three-match T20I series ended 1-1 due to rain washing out one game. The hosts have a balanced team in terms of batting and bowling and will be confident playing at home, where they know the conditions favor their style of play.

Australia come into this tournament after a successful Big Bash League season, with many of their players in good form. The Australian team has a balanced side with a lot of power in their batting lineup and a strong bowling attack. Although Australia may be slight favorites in this match, the home advantage that Pakistan has may make this a closely contested match.

PAK vs AUS: Pitch Report

The pitch in Lahore is known to be batters-friendly, with true bounce and fast outfield, making it ideal for big scores. This match is expected to be a high-scoring one. The bowlers will have to be spot on, especially in the powerplay and death overs, as even a small error can be costly.

PAK vs AUS Head-to-Head in T20Is

• Matches Played: 28
  
• Pakistan Won: 1
• Australia Won: 14
  
• Tied / No Result: 1

See Also: SA vs WI, 2nd T20I: Head-to-head, pitch report & predicted playing XIs

PAK vs AUS: Predicted Playing XIs

Pakistan (PAK):

Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Ali Agha (c), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed

Australia (AUS):

Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (c), Cameron Green, Josh Inglis (wk), Marcus Stoinis, Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Owen, Xavier Bartlett, Matt Kuhnemann, Adam Zampa, Ben Dwarshuis

Australian fast bowler Kane Richardson has announced his retirement from professional cricket, ending a 17-year career filled with international success, domestic titles, and participation in franchise leagues around the world.

Richardson was part of Australia’s winning squad in the 2021 T20 World Cup. He also became one of the most successful bowlers in Big Bash League (BBL) history. Over 15 BBL seasons, he took 142 wickets, placing fifth on the competition’s all-time men’s wicket-taking list.

During his BBL career, Richardson played for the Adelaide Strikers, Melbourne Renegades, and Sydney Sixers, making a strong impact at each club.

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Kane Richardson Ends 17-Year Cricket Career

Australian fast bowler Kane Richardson has retired from professional cricket at the age of 34, ending a 17-year career that included international success and domestic achievements.

Australian seamer Kane Richardson has called time on his professional career at the age of 34

He represented Australia in 25 ODIs and 36 T20Is, and was a member of the 2021 T20 World Cup-winning side pic.twitter.com/5cs4VbCCGf

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) January 27, 2026

International and Domestic Highlights

Richardson played 25 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and 36 T20 Internationals for Australia. Domestically, he was key to the Melbourne Renegades’ championship win in BBL|08. He took 104 wickets in 80 matches for the Renegades, making him the club’s leading wicket-taker in men’s Big Bash history.

Richardson’s T20 career began in 2009 with South Australia in the original state-based Big Bash. He played 36 matches for the Adelaide Strikers over six seasons, including their first-ever match in BBL 1. He then moved to the Renegades in BBL 7, where he enjoyed his most successful domestic T20 period.

Final Seasons and Retirement

Injuries affected Richardson in recent seasons. He finished his career with the Sydney Sixers in BBL 15, playing just two matches in his final season.Richardson announced his retirement on Instagram on Monday, receiving tributes from the cricket community. His close friend and teammate Adam Zampa wrote, “My friend has played his last game of professional cricket; 18 years in the game, wouldn’t be the person I am without him.”

With a ‘big thanks’ to his family, friends, and his fans, the former Australia batter, Damien Martyn, has given a massive update on his life on social media, besides a thank-you note, in his first public comments since being taken severely ill with meningitis. The 54-year-old wrote after returning home from the hospital, where he was admitted on Boxing Day. 

Martyn was taken ill on Boxing Day (December 26) and was put in an induced coma soon after. It didn’t look good at the time, on January 04, when his close friend and former team-mate, Adam Gilchrist, spoke about the special turnaround in his health in the last 48 hours of the events.

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“On the 27th of December 2025, my life was taken out of my hands…when meningitis took over my brain, & unbeknownst to me, I was placed into a paralyzed coma for 8 days to help me fight this awful disease. And that I did! Fight that is! Martyn wrote on his Twitter account.

Damien Martyn gives special ‘Thank you’ message for fans

The former Western Australia batter smashed 4406 runs in 109 innings of the longest format with the help of 13 centuries and 23 half-centuries, besides notching up 5346 runs in 182 innings at an average of over 40, with the help of his five centuries and 37 half-centuries.

This post is A BIG thank you to ALL my family, friends and so many other people who have reached out to me!

On the 27th of December 2025 my life was taken out of my hands…when meningitis took over my brain, & unbeknownst to me I was placed into a paralysed coma for 8 days to… pic.twitter.com/3Mt3DS6MZY

— Damien Martyn🏏 (@damienmartyn) January 17, 2026

“After being given a 50/50 chance of surviving, I came out of the induced coma 8 days later…not able to walk or talk. And yet 4 days after that, with the doctors in disbelief, I walked, I talked, and proved to them all why I should be released from the hospital to start my recovery.” Martyn addressed the Twitter message.  

“There are so many wonderful people in this world, from paramedics (at Mermaid Waters Ambulance), doctors & nurses (at Gold Coast University Hospital), to family, friends, and people I didn’t even know. I feel like I met all these fantastic people in the past three weeks, or they reached out to me through messages of love and support.” He penned down.

Australia completed a commanding Ashes 2025–26 campaign by defeating England by five wickets in the final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The hosts chased down a target of 160 on the fifth day to seal the series 4–1 and underline their dominance at home once again.

England began the final day at 302 for eight and tried to delay the result with a strong lower-order effort. Jacob Bethell stood tall with a brilliant career-best 154, showing great patience and control at the crease. His innings gave England some hope of setting a tricky target.

That resistance ended when Mitchell Starc removed the last two wickets to finish the innings. Starc ended the series with 31 wickets, making him one of the biggest match-winners of the Ashes and helping Australia stay firmly in control throughout the contest.

Australia stay strong in Ashes and World Test Championship race

Australia started the chase positively as openers Jake Weatherald and Travis Head added quick runs at the top. The two brought up a good opening stand before England struck back with two quick wickets to create some pressure on the home team for a while.

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Marnus Labuschagne played the anchor role in settling nerves with a fluent knock in the middle order. Cameron Green and Alex Carey then took over, adding an unbeaten stand to guide Australia safely towards the target without further trouble.

Carey hit the winning runs before the tea break as Australia sealed both the match and the series. The victory also strengthened Australia's lead at the top of the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 standings. They now sit well clear of the chasing pack, while New Zealand and South Africa follow behind. England, meanwhile, slipped further down the table after another tough tour.

Updated WTC points table after AUS vs ENG 5th Test 2026

Travis Head, the opening batter for Australia who got the chance in that position during the second innings of the opening Ashes 2025/26 due to the injury of Usman Khawaja, has celebrated his third century at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) during the fifth and final red-ball clash of the series.

It was another half-volley from Josh Tongue as the left-handed batter drives it for an easy single to complete the century. Travis Head has now celebrated a single Test century in every single venue down under that he has featured in with the most being at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) with four centuries.

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Head ended up with 163 in 166 balls at a strike rate of nearly a hundred, thanks to his 24 boundaries and one six as Australia took the lead in the second innings of the game. Travis Head has seven scores of 150+ in the longest format, but has yet to surpass 175, which remains his highest score against the West Indies at the Adelaide Oval.

Travis Head gets standing ovation from SCG crowd for cracking century

Travis completed his 150 during this Sydney Test match in just 152 balls, which remains the fourth fastest in a Men’s Ashes, as Adam Gilchrist holds the record for the fastest 150 in just 141 balls during the 2001 Ashes at Edgbaston in Birmingham. Head also finds himself in second position in the table with 143-ball 150 in Brisbane.

Watch the video here: 

Travis Head has his first Test century at the SCG and his third of the series!#Ashes | #PlayoftheDay | @nrmainsurance pic.twitter.com/U3jcL2cRde

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 5, 2026

Since 2000, only opening batters have crossed more than 500 runs as an opener in an Ashes series, as Head becomes the fourth one and joins the elite company of Michael Vaughan, Sir Alastair Cook, and David Warner. In terms of scoring centuries at the seven Australian grounds, Head becomes the fifth one and joins the likes of Warner, Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, and Steve Waugh.

Travis has also become only the second Australian batter this century to score 600 or more runs in a single Ashes series, following Steve Smith, who holds the record twice, during the 2019 and 2017/18 Ashes.

Brief Scores: Australia 437/7 (Travis Head 163, Steve Smith 94*, Brydon Carse 3/95) lead England 384 (Joe Root 160, Harry Brook 84) by 53 runs. 

Australian chief selector George Bailey has hinted at the possibility of Glenn Maxwell taking up wicketkeeping duties if Josh Inglis suffers an injury during the T20 World Cup. While Maxwell has never kept wickets at the international level, he has performed the role at the junior level and also kept wickets in a one-off match for Australia during the 2009 Hong Kong Super Sixes.

Bailey said that he has seen Maxwell keep wickets and feels that the 37-year-old has natural ability behind the stumps. He believes Maxwell’s experience could help Australia manage unexpected situations during a World Cup, where team balance often becomes a challenge.

“I’ve seen him do it. He’s a natural; he did it when he was younger. We’ve been in World Cups with one player short in certain positions. It always feels like you’ve got to give up something,” Bailey was quoted as saying to the cricket.au website. He added, “It’s the balance of those sort of day-to-day injuries where a player might just be missing for one game versus a more serious injury, and then how long that is, and can you carry someone?”

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Inglis is the only specialist wicketkeeper named in Australia’s provisional squad for the T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 9.

Could Glenn Maxwell's unique odyssey through international cricket lead him to taking the gloves if the moment calls for it in the T20 World Cup? 👀https://t.co/eY1ridHubh

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 3, 2026

Bailey on powerplay bowling options

George Bailey also spoke about the option of using left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann and spin-bowling all-rounder Cooper Connolly inside the powerplay. He said this is something Australia have not done much in the past, but both players have the skill to bowl early in the innings.

“[That] is something that we haven’t traditionally done a lot of. I think both those guys have got that skillset, so that allows you to create some space elsewhere to be able to line up certain bowlers and continue to keep Zamps (Zampa) in his space,” Bailey said.

Australia’s group details

Mitchell Marsh-led Australia have been placed in Group B of the T20 World Cup along with Ireland, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, and Oman. The team will play all their group-stage matches in Sri Lanka.