Pakistan, led by Salman Ali Aga, is set to host Australia in the first T20 match of the three-match series on Wednesday, January 28. The match will be played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, where the hosts will look to find their best combination ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, starting on February 7.
Australia has brought a team to get used to the conditions in the subcontinent. Pakistan has dropped senior players like Mohammad Rizwan and Haris Rauf from the team. Salman Ali Aga faces a big challenge in putting together a team that combines experienced players with new faces.
This article provides a detailed preview of PAK vs AUS 1st T20I, including free live streaming details, pitch and weather report, head-to-head records and key stats.
PAK vs AUS 1st T20I Preview:
Date and Place: Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium will host the first T20 match of the three-match series between Salman Ali Aga-led Pakistan and Australia’s Mitchell Marsh on Wednesday, January 28.
PAK vs AUS Squad:
Australia will be without key stars Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Glenn Maxwell and Tim David. His absence provides a golden opportunity for the players to step up and prove their worth in subcontinent conditions ahead of the World Cup.
Pakistan squad: Salman Ali Aga (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafe (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saeem Ayub, Shaheen Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk) and Usman Tariq.
Australia team: Mitchell Marsh (captain), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Mahali Beardman, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnman, Mitch Owen, Josh Philippe, Matthew Renshaw, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.
PAK vs AUS Probable XI:
Pakistan playing eleven: Saeem Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan (wicketkeeper), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Ali Aga (captain), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed.
Australia playing XI: Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (c), Cameron Green, Josh Inglis (wk), Marcus Stoinis, Cooper Connolly, Mitch Owen, Xavier Bartlett, Matt Kuhneman, Adam Zampa, Ben Dwarshuis.
PAK vs AUS 1st T20I Major Battle
In T20 cricket, a good over or a big wicket can change the result. Here is the battle of four key players to watch in the first T20I between Pakistan and Australia.
shaheen afridi vs travis head
This is one of the most exciting contests of the match. Shaheen Afridi is known for taking wickets in the very first over. He bowls fast and swings the ball back towards the batsmen. The left-arm fast bowler attacks the stumps with full, fast balls.
On the other hand, Travis Head is one of the most dangerous opening batsmen in world cricket at the moment. He attacks with the very first ball. If Shaheen makes even a small mistake, Head can punish him with a boundary. However, if Shaheen bowls his yorkers, Head can be out early.
Babar Azam vs Adam Zampa
In T20, the middle overs (7 to 15) are important. Babar Azam is the leading batsman and innings architect of Pakistan. He prefers to stay at the crease, score runs consistently and find the gaps rather than taking big risks.
Adam Zampa is Australia’s main weapon in this era. The leg spinner bowls effective googlies and has troubled Babar in the past. Babar will try to rotate the strike, while Zampa will try to trap him LBW. If Zampa removes Babar early, Pakistan may find it difficult to score big.
Sam Ayub vs. Xavier Bartlett
Saim Ayub is known for his aggressive approach and his famous no-look shot. He tries to dominate the bowlers during the powerplay and favors his arm speed against all types of bowling.
Xavier Bartlett is a rising talent for Australia and can swing the new ball both ways. In the absence of Mitchell Starc, additional responsibility has fallen on Bartlett. He will challenge Ayub with outswinger. If Ayoub attacks the moving ball too hard, too early, it is possible for the keeper to get the edge.
marcus stoinis vs naseem shah
Often the last over decides the match. Marcus Stoinis has the power to cross even the biggest boundaries and is expected to score fast runs in the death overs.
Naseem Shah bowls at serious pace, often exceeding 145 kilometers per hour, and is adept at bowling yorkers. This fight is pure power versus raw speed. If Naseem misses his length even slightly then Stoinis can send the ball into the stands. If Naseem makes his place then it may be difficult for Stoinis to score.
PAK vs AUS 1st T20I Key Players:
Pakistan – Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Naseem Shah
Australia – Travis Head, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Marsh, Adam Zampa, Pat Cummins
PAK vs AUS 1st T20I – Free Live Streaming & Telecast Details
TV broadcasting in India: The first T20 match between Pakistan and Australia will be telecast live on Sony Sports Network.
Online Live Streaming in India: Fans can watch the match live on SonyLIV app and website.
Match date: The first T20 match will be played on Wednesday, January 28.
venue: This match will be held at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Time: The match is scheduled to start at 8:30 pm Indian time.
How to watch on television: PAK vs AUS 1st T20I will be shown live on Sony Sports Network channels.
Online Streaming: Fans can watch the match live on SonyLIV app and website on mobile devices and web browsers.
PAK vs AUS 1st T20I Weather & Pitch Report – Lahore
PAK vs AUS: Weather report in Lahore
The weather is expected to be cold and hazy in Lahore for the first T20 match on Wednesday. According to AccuWeather, the day temperature will reach a maximum of 17°C, while the night minimum temperature is expected to drop to 5°C.
During match hours in the evening, the temperature will hover around 12°C and drop to around 10°C by the end of the game. There is no chance of rain, which will ensure the entire match without any interruption. However, heavy dew along with possible fog is expected to play a major role.
PAK vs AUS Pitch Report at Gaddafi Stadium:
The pitch of Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore is famous as a batsman’s paradise. The venue favors teams batting first, with 20 wins while setting the target, while 14 wins while chasing in 34 T20s.
It is a high-scoring ground with an average first innings score of 164. The highest score at this venue is 209/3, posted by England in 2022, while the most successful run chase is 197/3, achieved by Pakistan against Bangladesh in 2025.
Fast bowlers may get a hint of swing in the initial overs. The most important factor for this series is dew. Due to the time of year (January), heavy dew is almost guaranteed, making the ball wet and slippery in the second innings.
PAK vs AUS Head-to-Head Records
| statistics | Matchbox | pak won | Australia won | Drag | Tied up | N.R. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| overall | 28 | 13 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| in Pakistan | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| last 5 t20i | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
PAK vs AUS head-to-head records: key stats
According to ESPN Cricinfo, Pakistan and Australia have played each other 28 times in T20Is. Australia has achieved 14 wins compared to Pakistan’s 13 wins, while one match ended in a no result.
In matches played in Pakistan, the two teams have met only once (in Lahore, 2022), where Australia emerged victorious. The team led by Mitchell Marsh will enter the upcoming match as a strong contender to win.
PAK vs AUS head-to-head records: last 5 matches
Australia have completely dominated in recent encounters and have won all of the last five T20 matches against Pakistan. The Men in Yellow achieved a 3-0 clean sweep over Pakistan at home in November 2024. They also won the one-off T20I in Lahore in 2022 and the T20 World Cup semi-final in 2021.
PAK vs AUS head-to-head records – results of last 5 games:
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Australia won by 7 wickets in Hobart on November 18, 2024
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Australia won by 13 runs in Sydney on November 16, 2024
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Australia won by 29 runs in Brisbane on November 14, 2024
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Australia won by 3 wickets in Lahore on April 5, 2022
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Australia won by 5 wickets in Dubai on 11 November 2021
PAK vs AUS 1st T20I – Conclusion:
The toss will be important in the first T20 match between Pakistan and Australia due to dew in Lahore. Salman Ali Aga-led Pakistan will be under extra pressure, with key players like Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi having to perform well.
Australia, on the other hand, have explosive power hitters and a world-class bowling attack. Although Pakistan is always dangerous on home soil, the absence of key players and recent form gives the visiting team an edge. However, if Shaheen Afridi collapses the top order early, the Green Shirts could surprise Australia.
Also read: Pakistan will not boycott T20 World Cup or India match due to fear of Jai Shah
