Explained! Why PAK vs AUS T20I Matches Will Start Early?

The Pakistan vs Australia T20 series 2026 will act as a great preparation for both the teams ahead of the upcoming ICC tournament. All the matches will be played in Pakistan at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, which is one of the renowned cricket stadiums in Pakistan, between 29 January and 1 February 2026. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) promoted the series as a key component of preparation for both sides ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to commence on 7 February across India and Sri Lanka.

Australia’s T20I contingent is expected to reach Lahore on 28 January, representing their first tour of Pakistan since April 2022. The Men in Green will aim to settle their combinations and assess their bench strength in home conditions, while Australia will focus on adjusting to subcontinental surfaces.

With Pakistan placed in Group A and Australia in Group B for the World Cup, this brief series should deliver important match time to both teams ahead of the mega ICC event.

Why Did the PAK vs AUS Series Timing Got Changed?

Each game of this series will be played under lights, with the toss set for approximately 3:30 PM Pakistan Standard Time and play beginning at 4:00 PM. The PAK vs AUS T20 match time has witnessed a change as it has been adjusted by two hours to counter extreme weather conditions, such as fog and severe cold in Lahore. Earlier, the game was supposed to start at 6:00 PM PKT.

The PAK vs AUS series timing change could be considered a smart move by the Pakistan Cricket Board, as they have taken a proactive decision to provide a series without weather interruptions for the fans. Even the BCCI had to encounter a situation where a match got abandoned due to dense fog in Lucknow during the India vs South Africa T20I series 2025, for which they had to endure backlash for scheduling a match in North India during peak winters.

Star Australian Players to Miss out on Pakistan vs Australia T20 Series 2026

Australia will be without several key players for the series, with Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Tim David all currently undergoing rehabilitation. Pakistan have their own injury concern, as Shaheen Shah Afridi, who is among the best T20 bowlers, has been ruled out after picking up an injury during his stint in the Big Bash League.

Meanwhile, PCB Chief Operating Officer Sumair Ahmed Syed extended a warm welcome to the visiting Australian squad and described the contest as a high-profile series.

Australia’s upcoming tour marks their first return to Pakistan since the visit in March–April 2022, when the two sides contested three Tests, three ODIs and a single T20I. Australia won that T20I at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, one of the renowned cricket stadiums in Pakistan. They also claimed the Test series, although Pakistan emerged as the winners during the ODI series on home soil.

In terms of recent form, Pakistan enter the contest after drawing their T20I series in Sri Lanka. Australia, meanwhile, will arrive with confidence, having registered a 4–1 victory over England in the Ashes Test series.