Australia to play three T20s in Lahore ahead of T20 World Cup

4h ago Ian Chadband (AAP)

Pakistan is looking forward to three T20 internationals the team will play in Lahore against Australia in the build-up to the World Cup

The details of World Cup-bound Australia's first T20 internationals in Pakistan in four years in the build-up to the global showpiece in India and Sri Lanka have been confirmed, with Lahore named to host their three-match series.

Gaddafi Stadium will stage the matches on January 29, 31 and February 1 before Mitch Marsh's squad heads off to Sri Lanka where they'll play their group matches in the T20 World Cup, which will run from February 7 to March 8.

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Australia's visit - the first time they've played Pakistan there since their last full tour in March to April 2022, which included three Tests, three ODIs and a T20I - has been greeted with much enthusiasm by the hosts.

"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," Pakistan Cricket Board chief operating officer Sumair Ahmed Syed said on Wednesday.

"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."

Australia v Pakistan T20Is

January 29: First T20I, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore 6pm PKT (12am Jan 30 AEDT)

January 31: Second T20I, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore 6pm PKT (12am Feb 1 AEDT)

February 1: Third T20I, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore 6pm PKT (12am Feb 2 AEDT)

That lone T20I at Gaddafi Stadium back in April 2022 was won narrowly by Australia, who also prevailed in the Test campaign but lost in the ODI series.

Australia's squad will arrive in Lahore on January 28 and it will be a major opportunity for both sides to assess their injury-hit preparations before Pakistan play their World Cup opener against the Netherlands in Colombo on February 7 and Australia start against Ireland at the same venue four days later.

Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Tim David are three key Aussies all in their recovery periods, while Pakistan's Shaheen Shah Afridi is also sidelined due to the injury he suffered when playing for Brisbane Heat in the BBL in December.

Australia's favourable-looking group B in the World Cup also includes Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Oman.

2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup

Australia squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa