Pakistan playing XI Vs Australia, 1st T20I, 2026- Babar Azam in, Fakhar Zaman out

Pakistan probable XI Vs Australia [Source: AFP Photo]

With the T20 World Cup set to commence in a few days' time, Australia and Pakistan will collide against each other in a riveting three-match T20I series, starting on January 29. The series provides both teams a chance to fine-tune their playing combination ahead of the marquee ICC event.

Pakistan will certainly start as favourites as the hosts have done decently in T20Is in recent times, barring the Asia Cup final. Under Salman Agha’s leadership, the team has gelled perfectly, and they’ll be eager to try out different playing combinations in the upcoming series.

Ahead of the first T20I match against Australia, we take a look at Pakistan’s probable XI that could help them win the contest.

Top order: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam

• Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub are locked in as Pakistan’s two openers for the upcoming series and the T20 World Cup. The duo has been consistently backed by the management and despite failures, Pakistan has persisted with Sahibzada and Saim Ayub.
• Apart from his top-order batting, Ayub can also be used as a spin-bowler in the powerplay, a move that paid dividends in the Asia Cup.
• The only downside of having the two open is that they lack the ability to straightaway target the bowlers with aggressive stroke-play, and that is something the duo needs to work on.
• The returning Babar Azam will slot in at number 3. The Pakistan batter was dropped from the Asia Cup squad due to a poor strike rate, but the problem continued to persist even after he was recalled. He failed to deliver the goods in the BBL as well, but Pakistan cricket has shown full faith in Babar, and the former captain will take care of the mantle at number 3.

Middle order: Salman Agha, Khawaja Nafay/Usman Khan, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf

No Fakhar Zaman in the playing XI

Unlike other teams in the World Cup, Pakistan bat deep, and it is shown in their playing combination. Captain Salman Ali Agha will bat at 4, as the skipper likes to control things in the middle order, and he also had a productive outing in the Sri Lanka series recently.

However, in a controversial call, Pakistan is likely to drop Fakhar Zaman from their playing XI. In the past, he was generally used as an opener, but the southpaw was demoted in the middle order. Also, his T20I stats from 2025 reflect the sorry state of affairs.

(Fakhar Zaman T20I stats in 2025)

• In 2025, Fakhar scored 512 runs, but the strike rate was questionable (127), and hence, the team might want an aggressive keeper-batter in the middle-order, and the choice could be between Usman Khan and the youngster Khawaja Nafay.
• Pakistan has an attacking middle and lower-order batting as the team has Shadab Khan at number 6, Mohammad Nawaz at number 7, and Faheem Ashraf at 8. While Shadab and Nawaz will provide assistance with their explosive batting and spin-bowling, Ashraf can also chip in with 4 overs if needed.

Bowlers: Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed

Shaheen Afridi has fully recovered from the knee injury that he sustained in the BBL competition, and he will be the leader of the bowling attack. Alongside him, Pakistahn has a tough choice to make, either pick Naseem Shah, or Salman Mirza. While Mirza has done well in T20Is, Naseem has been the man in form as of late.

(Naseem Shah in ILT20)

• In the recently concluded ILT20, Naseem Shah performed exceedingly well as he picked up 12 wickets, and had an economy rate of just 6.97.
• Hence, at least for the first T20I, Naseem will start over Salman Mirza as the second-choice pacer.
• Abrar Ahmed will be the front-line spinner for the first T20I. The wily bowler has done well in 2025, and will be expected to take wickets against the Aussies.

Pakistan probable XI for 1st T20I Vs Australia

Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Salman Ali Agha (c), Usman Khan/Khawaja Nafay (WK), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed