Pakistan announces schedule for Australia series ahead of T20 World Cup 2026

In order to strengthen their preparations for the forthcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka, which begins on February 7, Cricket Australia (CA) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have partnered. 

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With the PCB confirming the whole schedule for the forthcoming three-match T20I series on January 14, Australia's brief trip to Pakistan ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 is now formally set. 

Additionally, this will be Australia's third visit to Pakistan since their three-match Test and ODI series in March and April of 2022, which was followed by a single Twenty20 International. On April 5, 2022, Australia won their lone Twenty20 International in the Gaddafi Stadium by a narrow margin of three wickets.

Australia to play three T20Is in Pakistan to prepare for T20 World Cup 2026

The PCB has declared that the three-match Twenty20 International series will take place in the evening on January 29, January 31, and February 1 at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. On January 28, the day before the series opener in Lahore, the Australian team is scheduled to arrive in Lahore. 

Australia will be Pakistan's first visitor in 2026, and security and procedures are already in place. As both nations get ready for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, the forthcoming Pakistan-Australia T20I series is quite important.

“We are excited and look forward to hosting Australia for the three-match T20I series here in Lahore. The tour marks a blockbuster beginning of the year for Pakistan Cricket fans and I urge them to turn out in numbers during the series to support both the teams as they put final touches to their T20 World Cup preparations.

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I’m sure the Gaddafi Stadium has become a familiar sight for Australian Cricket team as they have played a Test, five ODIs and a T20I here since March 2022,” PCB COO Sumair Ahmed Syed stated.

Schedule for Pakistan vs Australia Series:

January 29: 1st T20I at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

January 31: 2nd T20I at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

February 1: 3rd T20I at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

This T20I series is useful for assessing players under match pressure and fine-tuning combinations because Pakistan and Australia are in different groups for the international competition. Interestingly, Pakistan is grouped with Namibia, the Netherlands, India, and the United States in Group A. 

Australia, however, is placed in Group B with Zimbabwe, Ireland, Oman, and Sri Lanka. Australia will play Ireland on February 11 in Colombo, while Pakistan will begin their campaign on February 7 at the Sinhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground against the Netherlands.

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