(Web Desk) – The Pakistan Cricket Board has officially confirmed the schedule for Australia’s three-match T20I tour of Pakistan, setting up a major international assignment just days before the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 begins in South Asia.
The series will be played entirely at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, with matches scheduled for January 29, January 31 and February 1, providing both teams with crucial competitive action ahead of the global tournament starting on February 7.
All three games will begin at 6pm Pakistan Standard Time, with the toss scheduled for 5.30pm. Australia’s touring party is due to arrive in Lahore on January 28, one day before the opening match, allowing limited but focused time to train and adapt to local conditions.
The PCB confirmed that the tightly packed series will be completed within four days, giving both sides an intense run of fixtures before shifting attention to the World Cup. Gaddafi Stadium, which has hosted a growing number of high-profile international matches since Pakistan’s full return to global cricket, will once again be the centre of attention.
Pakistan enter the series after drawing their most recent T20I assignment in Sri Lanka, while Australia arrive following a 4-1 victory over England in the Ashes Test series, adding extra edge to what is expected to be a competitive three-match contest in Lahore.
Prep for T20 World Cup 2026
The tour carries added significance as both teams use it as their final preparation for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which begins on February 7 and will feature 20 teams playing across multiple venues in India and Sri Lanka. Pakistan have been placed in Group A and will play their group-stage matches in Sri Lanka, while Australia are drawn in Group B.
The PCB described the series as vital game time for both sides before the tournament, with squad combinations, player roles and match fitness expected to be fine-tuned during the three fixtures.
The build-up to the series has been shaped by injury concerns on both sides. Australia are monitoring the recoveries of Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Tim David, all of whom are currently in rehabilitation phases. Pakistan are also dealing with a key absence, with Shaheen Shah Afridi sidelined after picking up an injury during the Big Bash League.
Australia tour of Pakistan
This will be Australia’s third visit to Pakistan since the resumption of full bilateral cricket between the sides. Their previous tour in March and April 2022 included three Tests, three ODIs and a solitary T20I. That lone T20I, played at Gaddafi Stadium in April 2022, was won by Australia by three wickets, while the visitors also took the Test series before Pakistan claimed the ODI series.
Australia were also in Pakistan more recently during the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, where they played three of their tournament matches on Pakistani soil.
PCB Chief Operating Officer Sumair Ahmed Syed welcomed the return of the Australian side, describing the series as a marquee event for local fans. He said the tour would give Pakistan cricket supporters an exciting start to the year and encouraged them to turn out in large numbers as both teams put the final touches to their World Cup preparations. He also noted that Gaddafi Stadium has become a familiar venue for the Australian team, having hosted a Test, five ODIs and a T20I involving them since March 2022.
