Pakistan and Australia will face each other in their final T20 International match at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Sunday, February 1 before starting their journey for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 in Sri Lanka and India.
For the third and final T20 match, Pakistan Playing XI vs Australia Playing XI will be the last chance to finalize their competitive XI before the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 starting on February 7. Both teams will be keen to finish their World Cup preparations on a strong note in Lahore.
Pakistan have already taken a 2-0 lead in the T20 series and will be aiming to finish their home campaign on a high note. Salman Ali Aga’s team has been dominant and the spinners have emerged as stars. His strong spin attack will once again lead the playing eleven.
Also Read: PAK vs AUS 3rd T20I Preview: Free Live Streaming, Pitch & Weather Report, Head-to-Head, Stats & Records | australia tour pakistan 2026
For Australia, the third and final T20I will be a chance to try new combinations and experiment with the batting order as they prepare for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. Mitchell Marsh will be keen to help Australia avoid defeat in the T20I series in Pakistan.
This article provides information on the probable playing XIs for Pakistan and Australia in the third T20I as well as possible team combinations and key players to watch out for at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Pakistan Playing XI vs Australia Playing XI-3rd T20I
Pakistan Playing XI vs Australia – 3rd T20I
Openers: Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan
Pakistan have got a perfect left-right combination at the top in the form of young left-handed batsman Saim Ayub and right-handed batsman Sahibzada Farhan. He is expected to continue opening the batting in the 3rd Pakistan vs Australia T20 match in Lahore.
Sam Ayub has been one of the most aggressive hitters for Pakistan in the powerplay, and he would love to do so in the final game, having scored 63 runs at an excellent strike rate of over 190 in the first two matches against the Kangaroos.
He will once again be paired with Sahibzada Farhan, who is currently struggling with the bat. Farhan scored a duck and five in the first two T20Is, so he will be keen to get back among the runs in the final game before the T20 World Cup 2026.
Middle-order batsmen and all-rounders: Salman Ali Aga (captain), Babar Azam, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan and Faheem Ashraf.
Salman Ali Aga will once again look to lead the batting from the front, as he is already the leading run scorer in the ongoing home series against Australia with 115 runs in two matches. Usman Khan is also in good form with 71 runs and will share the responsibility of the middle order with Babar Azam, who is struggling for runs.
However, the Men in Green have a solid army of all-rounders who can step up and score runs for them. Faheem Ashraf is likely to be tested in the final game and apart from being an impressive fast bowler, he is also a good batsman.
Then, they have experienced all-rounders Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan, who will be crucial in their quest for a historic whitewash over Australia. Shadab in particular has been in great form, scoring 29 runs at an average of 120.83 in this series, and also taking four wickets at an average of just 12.75. Nawaz also scored 24 runs and took two wickets.
Bowlers: Shaheen Afridi, Usman Tariq, Abrar Ahmed
Shaheen Afridi is expected to perform well with the new ball in the final T20I as he was rested in the second game after his poor performance in the first match. Afridi and Faheem Ashraf will share the fast bowling department in the final T20 match.
Leg spinner Abrar Ahmed and off-spinner Usman Tariq will be a lethal spin attack for Pakistan and Shadab will also have an impressive arm along with them.
Abrar has been a big threat for Australia in this series. The leg spinner has taken five wickets, almost one every 8.4 balls. Completing the attack will be Usman Tariq, who made an immediate impact with 2/16 in the series-winning second T20I against Australia on January 31.
Pakistan playing eleven: Saeem Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Aga (captain), Babar Azam, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Usman Tariq, Abrar Ahmed.
Australia Playing XI vs Pakistan – 3rd T20I
Openers: Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh (C)
Travis Head and captain Mitchell Marsh will open the innings for Australia in the third T20I in Lahore. In the last game, Marsh could score only 18 runs, while Head scored only 27 runs in two games. His form is a matter of big concern for Australia, so he will be keen to get back into form.
Also Read: PAK vs AUS Match Prediction: Who will win the 3rd T20I? australia tour pakistan 2026
However, both Head and Marsh are two of the most dangerous opening batsmen in the world, and they can take the game away from the opposition in the powerplay itself. His form in Australia will be crucial to avoid a whitewash in Pakistan ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026.
Middle-order batsmen and all-rounders: Cameron Green, Matthew Short, Josh Inglis (wk), Cooper Connolly, Marcus Stoinis, Matt Short
Cameron Green is likely to bat at number three to open the innings for Australia. Green is the leading run-scorer for Australia in this series with 71 runs in two matches. Considering Matthew Short’s all-round numbers and off-spin bowling, he is also expected to be included in the playing eleven.
Josh Inglis and Cooper Connolly will be crucial in batting against the spinners during the middle overs, while Marcus Stoinis will have the added responsibility of delivering with the bat as Australia aim to salvage glory in the final clash in Pakistan.
Bowlers: Xavier Bartlett, Adam Zampa, Matthew Kuhnman
With the Lahore pitch expected to favor spinners, Matthew Kuhnman and Adam Zampa will be crucial for the Australian team. Although left-arm spinner Kuhneman was expensive in the second T20I, he can be dangerous on the used Lahore surface.
Adam Zampa has been Australia’s best bowler in the series. He has taken five wickets for just 51 runs in eight overs and dismissed the batsmen at an average of just 10.2. Apart from Zampa, Xavier Bartlett also has important responsibility.
Bartlett has so far taken three wickets for 26 on the Pakistan tour and scored 44 runs at a strike rate of 129.41. Bartlett will share the responsibility of fast bowling with Green and Stoinis in the final game.
Australia playing XI: Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (c), Cameron Green, Matthew Short, Josh Inglis (wk), Cooper Connolly, Marcus Stoinis, Matt Short, Xavier Bartlett, Adam Zampa, Matthew Kuhnman.
