PAK vs AUS: Why did Marcus Stoinis miss first T20I in Lahore?
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Marcus Stoinis missed the first PAK vs AUS T20I on January 29 at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
The three-match T20I series between Pakistan and Australia, held at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, serves as a crucial dress rehearsal for both teams ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. Kicking off on January 29, 2026, the series spans three days with games on January 29, 31, and February 1.
This bilateral encounter marks Australia’s return to Pakistan since the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy and offers both sides a final opportunity to refine strategies, test combinations, and build momentum before the mega event begins on February 7.
For Pakistan, led by Salman Ali Agha in the opener, the series is a chance to integrate key players like Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi, who were rested during their recent home series against Sri Lanka due to franchise commitments.
Australia, on the other hand, entered the series shorthanded, missing several World Cup-bound stars. The visitors are without Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, and Glenn Maxwell for the entire tour, as these players are managing injuries or workloads to peak for the World Cup. Travis Head was named stand-in skipper for first T20I, as Marsh had been rested.
Why did Marcus Stoinis miss first PAK vs AUS T20I in Lahore?
Marcus Stoinis, the veteran all-rounder was another notable omission from Australia’s XI in the first T20I despite being part of the touring squad. Stoinis, who captained Melbourne Stars in BBL 15 and delivered standout performances with 273 runs at a strike rate of 135 and 15 wickets at an economy of 7.44, was rested as a precautionary measure.
Also Read: PAK vs AUS: Why did Haris Rauf miss first T20I in Lahore
His exclusion stems from workload management, given his pivotal role in Australia’s World Cup plans as a middle-order batter and seam-bowling option. Having featured in eight BBL innings with consistent contributions, including an unbeaten 62 against Hurricanes, selectors opted to give him extra recovery time post the domestic season. Notably, he also suffered finger injury against Adelaide Strikers and that could be one of the reasons why he didn’t play.
“The boys are looking forward to it. This is a big block of cricket for us, so we are focused on starting well. Yeah, a few new guys–Beardman, Renshaw, and Jack Edwards. All three are coming off a good Big Bash season, so their confidence is high. It’s always exciting to have players debut, and our job is to make sure it’s an enjoyable experience for them.
Sri Lanka has traditionally been a bit tougher, so we have to be ready for anything. We talked about being adaptable as soon as we arrived and saw the surface. We’re looking forward to getting first use of it; hopefully, some moisture comes in later so we can play well”, said stand-in captain Travis Head.
Australia’s playing XI for 1st T20I vs Pakistan
Travis Head (c), Matt Short, Cameron Green, Matt Renshaw, Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Owen, Josh Philippe (wk), Jack Edwards, Xavier Bartlett, Adam Zampa, Mahli Beardman
Who is captaining Australia in 1st T20I against Pakistan?
Travis Head is captaining Australia in 1st T20I against Pakistan.
How many T20I games will be played between Pakistan and Australia?
Three T20I games will be played between Pakistan and Australia.
What is Australia’s playing XI in 1st T20I against Pakistan?
Travis Head (c), Matt Short, Cameron Green, Matt Renshaw, Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Owen, Josh Philippe (wk), Jack Edwards, Xavier Bartlett, Adam Zampa, Mahli Beardman
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Aniruddh Seshadri Iyer is a passionate sports journalist at Khel Now, specializing in tennis and Olympic sports. An engineer by training, he found his storytelling passion through iconic Grand Slam and Olympic moments. Known for sharp analysis and insightful coverage, he draws inspiration from Novak Djokovic’s resilience. Outside journalism, he enjoys reading, traveling, and playing the guitar.