Australia have announced a 17-man squad for their upcoming T20 tour of Pakistan, which does not include Steve Smith despite his excellent form in the Big Bash League (BBL) 2025-26. Chief selector George Bailey said Smith remained in the frame but missed out on selection due to stiff competition at the top of the order.
Australia will prepare for the T20 World Cup in the subcontinent with a three-match T20 series against Pakistan in Lahore. The matches will be played at Gaddafi Stadium from January 29. Notably, the tour will be Australia’s first visit to Pakistan in four years and their final series before the World Cup.
Steve Smith is in tremendous form before T20 World Cup 2026
Steve Smith is in excellent form in the Big Bash League. He scored a century in 42 balls at the Sydney Cricket Ground and then scored 54 runs in 40 balls against Brisbane Heat to help the Sydney Sixers reach the Qualifier final. He has scored 173 runs in three innings this season at a strike rate of more than 175.
Smith has not played any T20I since early 2024. Australia have announced a provisional World Cup squad that can be changed until January 31, but the selectors are expected to make changes only in case of injuries. Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head remain the first choice openers.
All four of Smith’s BBL centuries have come as an opening batsman. He could not play the last T20 World Cup in the Caribbean. Since his last T20I, he has averaged 51.18, including hundreds, with a strike rate of 156 in T20 cricket. In his last five BBL innings, he has scored two centuries and two half-centuries.
It’s a big problem – George Bailey on Steve Smith boycott
George Bailey said that Steve Smith will remain a strong option if he gets a place at the top of the batting order. He described the situation as a positive challenge and said that Smith is in great form but faces huge competition from Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh.
“This is a big problem,” he said. “He’s playing incredibly well, as he has in the BBL for the last few years, in a position that we’ve got really good coverage.
“I would hate to say about Steve that he can’t bat anywhere else because he has proven his ability to be able to do that on many occasions.
Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head are also playing incredibly well – George Bailey
Bailey told that Steve Smith has got opportunities as an opening batsman in T20Is. He said that Smith has extensive experience in international T20 cricket. Bailey said Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head have consistently performed well at the top of the order for Australia.
“Recently when he has got (T20) international opportunities he has been on top, certainly in his most recent ones (matches against New Zealand in February 2024 and India in November 2023),” Bailey said.
“He’s played a lot of international T20 cricket. Obviously when he goes back to the Big Bash, he’s a level up. He’s playing incredibly well, but Mitch Marsh and Travis Head have also been playing incredibly well, and they’ve done really well for us at the top in the T20 format.”
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