Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell Ignored as Australia Announce Squad for Pakistan Tour

With international cricket continuing across different regions through bilateral tours and T20 leagues happening, the fans will get to witness another bilateral tour in action soon. Australia is set to begin its next assignment with a T20I tour of Pakistan.

The series is scheduled to take place later this month and will mark an important step in Australia’s preparation ahead of the upcoming global tournament. The tour will have three matches, and all will be played in Lahore, with teams competing to clinch in their names.

Steve Smith Not Selected in Australia Squad for Pakistan Tour

As part of the build-up to the tour, the Cricket Australia has officially announced its 17-member squad for the T20I series. The squad announcement excited some fans but also sparked discussions among fans, as some expected names were missing once again.

The most notable omission was of Steve Smith from the Australia T20 squad for the Pakistan tour. He has been left out of the touring group, leading to disappointment among sections of Australian supporters.

Along with Smith, Glenn Maxwell was also ruled out of the series. It is a big surprise since Maxwell is one of the key components of Australia's T20I team. Being one of the most dangerous batsmen in the world, he is likely to play a big role if Australia are to do well in the upcoming T20 World Cup.

The Australia T20I squad for the upcoming bilateral series includes a mix of experienced players and younger names who have performed well in domestic cricket. The 17-member squad has 10 members who are part of the upcoming T20 World Cup.

New Faces in Australia T20 Squad for Pakistan Tour

Mahli Beardman and Jack Edwards are some of the new faces. Both players have earned their place in the squad after impressive performances in their respective BBL campaigns. Selectors are keen to test them at the international level during the Pakistan tour of Australia. All-rounder Mitchell Marsh will lead the side, with senior players such as Travis Head, Cameron Green, and Josh Inglis in the core team.

The team is well balanced but a few high-profile players are missing from the Australia Squad, including the most unexpected Steve Smith omission from the lineup despite his impressive performances in the Big Bash League. The injured trio of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Tim David are also kept out of the tour and are being managed before the T20 World Cup.

The Australia tour of Pakistan T20 series comprises of three T20 matches between January 29 and February 1 at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, one of the renowned cricket stadiums in Pakistan. The upcoming bilateral tour between teams will provide them with an important chance to test their World Cup preparations and test their best combinations.

Australia Squad for Pakistan Tour 2026

Mitch Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Mahli Beardman, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitch Owen, Josh Philippe, Matthew Renshaw, Matt Short, Marcus Stonis, Adam Zampa