Marsh is unlikely to play in the first match due to his late arrival, with Travis Head tipped to step in as captain
Captain Mitch Marsh insists there’s “no stress” about Australia’s disjointed preparation for the looming T20 World Cup.
Marsh was a late arrival in Pakistan for Australia’s three-match T20 series in Lahore starting on Thursday at 10pm (AEDT).
The skipper describes the brief series – three games in four days – as an important tune-up for Australia’s World Cup campaign starting on February 11 in Sri Lanka.
Selectors named a piecemeal 17-man squad for the Pakistan series, without big guns including Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Glenn Maxwell, Tim David and Nathan Ellis.
Those five players remain at home, while Marsh, who went deep into the Big Bash League as his Perth Scorchers won another title, only arrived in Pakistan in the past 24 hours.
The bulk of the Australian squad spent four days in Dubai before travelling to Pakistan.
“This tour, it’s very important for our World Cup preparations,” Marsh told reporters in Lahore.
“And we have got some guys who weren’t quite ready to be here, but they’re back at home training and preparing to meet us in Sri Lanka.
“So absolutely no stress there from our end.
“It’s a really important time in both teams’ preparation for the World Cup.
“Most of the squad have been in Dubai for the last four days training and getting together, some of us have flown in a little bit later due to Big Bash commitments, but we’re certainly ready to go.”
The Australian squad for the Pakistan fixtures features fringe players including Mahli Beardman, Ben Dwarshuis and Jack Edwards.
Marsh is unlikely to play in game one because of his late arrival, with Travis Head set to step in as captain.
All games start at 4pm local time (10pm AEDT) to minimise the chance of fog interrupting play at night, given it’s winter in Pakistan and temperatures aren’t forecast to top 19C.
“I must admit I didn’t pack too many jumpers, I wasn’t aware that Pakistan got this cold, so I’ll know next time,” Marsh said.
“But I think one of the things about our group and most international teams now is that preparation can be different for every tour.”
Marsh also diplomatically straight-batted a question about Pakistani ace Babar Azam, whose sudden departure from the BBL ahead of his Sydney Sixers’ final against the Scorchers raised eyebrows.
Babar had a middling tournament – scoring 202 runs at an average of 22.44 – and was involved in a blow-up with Sixers teammate Steve Smith when the Australian great hogged the strike in a match against Sydney Thunder.
“Babar has been a world-class player for a long period of time for Pakistan, so we have great respect for him,” Marsh said,
“And we know that in these conditions he’s one of the best players in the world still, so we look forward to that challenge.”
Qantas T20I tour of Pakistan 2026
First T20I: January 29, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, 10pm AEDT (4pm PKT)
Second T20I: January 31, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, 10pm AEDT (4pm PKT)
Third T20I: February 1, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, 10pm AEDT (4pm PKT)
Australia squad: Mitch Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Mahli Beardman, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitch Owen, Josh Philippe, Matthew Renshaw, Matt Short, Marcus Stonis, Adam Zampa
