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Fresh faces likely for Aussies

Up to four debutants on the cards for T20 opener

Australia is likely to field four players making their Twenty20 international debut against Pakistan this weekend after the completion of the Champions League Twenty20 semi-finals finally gave the squad some certainty.

Cameron Boyce and Glenn Maxwell will link up with the rest of Australia's T20 squad in Dubai today after their teams, the Hobart Hurricanes and Kings XI Punjab respectively, lost semi-finals in Hyderabad on Thursday night.

The hamstring injury to Mitch Marsh, picked up while playing for the Perth Scorchers in a dead rubber, has left Australia needing to draft in a player from outside the T20 squad, with Phil Hughes the main most likely to get the call up.

It would be a Twenty20 international debut for Hughes along with Boyce, Kane Richardson and Sean Abbott.

Richardson said new faces, and a change of leadership with Aaron Finch now taking the helm, would help Australia climb the world T20 cricket rankings.

"We're probably not where we should be in Twenty20," the Adelaide Strikers bowler said.

"With Bails (George Bailey) stepping down, it probably gives Finchy an opportunity now to try something different.

"It's exciting. He's been probably the main batsman over the past couple of years in Twenty20 domestic and world cricket.

"It's good to have a new leader. Bails is a big loss but there's plenty of world-class batters in the middle."

Not suiting up for the new-look Australia will be Pat Cummins after his side, the Kolkata Knight Riders, advanced to Saturday's CLT20 final in Bangalore.

Richardson played down the impact of the uncertainty around the team, knowing that it at least guaranteed him a start after several stints with the squad.

"That's one thing that's come out of all this mayhem I guess that is going on is that you probably know you're going to play," said the South Australian, who spent time in the UAE earlier this year with his IPL side Rajasthan Royals.

"Most of the boys have played here in the IPL, so that's a good thing for us to have that info in the back of our heads."

Also arriving in Dubai today is Bailey and Ben Hilfenhaus, who was called up to the Test squad to replace Shane Watson.

Possible Australia T20 XI to play Pakistan: Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Steve Smith, Phillip Hughes, Glenn Maxwell, James Faulkner, Sean Abbott, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Starc, Kane Richardson, Cameron Boyce.