Australia looking to assert themselves over unsettled Pakistan in T20 World Cup warm up
Pakistan v Australia | 1st T20I | Thursday 29th January | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore | 1:00pm
The series between Pakistan and Australia is set to serve as a warm-up for the two teams ahead of the T20 World Cup. Ironically Pakistan may not play at the T20 World Cup as they are still debating whether they should follow Bangladesh and withdraw from the competition.
The series involves three games with Thursday’s encounter followed by back-to-back games on the weekend. All the games will be played in Lahore.
The highest ranked batsman in the series is Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan who at fifth on the rankings is ahead of Travis Head (7th) and Mitch Marsh (8th).
Australia have won each of their last five T20Is against Pakistan.
Australia are the second ranked T20I side in the world while Pakistan are seventh.
The series between Pakistan and Australia is set to serve as a warm-up for the two teams ahead of the T20 World Cup.
With 134 T20I wickets to his credit Australia’s Adam Zampa is his country’s leading all-time wicket taker in the format.
Venue: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Australia have played just one previous T20I at the Gaddafi Stadium; a three wicket win over Pakistan in 2022.
Pakistan have won 18 of the 28 games they have played the Gaddafi Stadium. That’s a win percentage rate of 64.28.
No T20I at the venue has ever been abandoned or ended as a No Result.
There is not much to choose when it comes to winning the toss – of the 28 previous T20Is at the venue the team that won the toss chose to bat 12 times while fielding first was chosen 16 times.
The average first innings score at the venue is 164.
The highest score made at the ground was England’s 209 for three from 20 overs scored against Pakistan in 2022.
The lowest total recorded at the ground was New Zealand’s 94 all out from 15.3 overs against Pakistan in 2023.
The highest score successfully chased at the venue was Pakistan’s 197 for three from 17.2 overs scored against Bangladesh in 2025.
Weather:
It’s a good day for cricket in Lahore on Thursday with the forecast suggesting plenty of sunshine and no rain. Lahore is expected to experience pleasant, sunny weather with clear skies throughout the day. High temperatures will reach approximately 18 degrees, while the overnight low will drop to a chilly seven. Light northerly winds will persist, though air quality remains a concern.
Form (most recent game first):
Pakistan: L, A, W, W, L.
Australia: NR, L, L, W, NR.
Key player:
Pakistan, Babar Azam: Something of a fallen giant of the white-ball game, Babar was the centre of controversy in the BBL when Steve Smith opted not to take a simple single to deny Babar the strike at the start of the new over. The man who once sat atop the T20I batting rankings with 900 points is now languishing in 32nd place with 562 points. But he hasn’t suddenly become a bad player, and he has plenty to prove against Australia. Still just 31 years old Babar has plenty of cricket still ahead of him. He comes into the series on the back of a moderate BBL campaign that saw him score 202 runs with a high score of 58* and an average of 22.44. It is his strike rate of 103.06 which needs to improve. Expect him to look to assert himself against Australia on Thursday.
Australia, Travis Head: Travis Head hasn’t played much cricket since the end of the Ashes, but the powerful opener was in fantastic form in that series against England. Traditionally a middle order batsman in Test cricket, Head moved up the order for the Ashes and brought his T20 personality with him. He was belligerent, powerful and brave smashing England’s much-vaunted attack everywhere. With the centuries from his last five Tests Head will be looking to continue his Test form in the shortest format of the game. Heading into the series Head averages a modest 29.19, but it is his strike rate of 156.67 which tells a story – he scores his run quickly and he is aggressive from ball one.
Verdict: Australia
Australia are a well drilled unit and they have Pakistan’s number. On top of that Australia arrive in Pakistan focussed and ready to do battle in the T20 World Cup. For Pakistan there is a lot going on off the field that could serve to distract the players – the sooner they know for sure if they are going to the World Cup the better. For now, expect Australia to open the series with a win.
