Pakistan on Thursday defeated Australia by 22 runs in the T20 series opener at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.
All-rounder Saim Ayub outshone with both bat and bowl, taking two wickets and scoring a blistering 40 runs.
Earlier, Pakistan had won the toss and opted to bat first after winning the toss.
Speaking at the toss, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha said the pitch seemed dry, so he expected less turn in the first inning. Noting that Australia were a “quality side”, he affirmed that the Green Shirts were prepared as well.
Australian player Travis Head, who was at the toss, had stated his team was looking forward to the match. He had also stressed the need to be “adaptable”, acknowledging that the game was great preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
The Australian cricket team arrived in Lahore on Wednesday, marking the third time they have toured Pakistan. The tour was announced earlier this month.
All three matches are scheduled to take place at the Gaddafi Stadium on January 29, 31 and February 1, the PCB said in a statement.
Addressing a press conference in Lahore on Wednesday, Australian captain Mitchell Marsh praised the Green Shirts and said his team was excited about the challenge of playing them on home soil in preparation for the T20 World Cup.
In his remarks, Agha had stressed the importance of the series, saying, “There are some boxes that need to be ticked — this is one of those series where we will tick all boxes”.
Agha said that an effort had been made to prepare the same kind of pitches that would be expected in Sri Lanka.
The two teams played a three-match Test and an ODI series in March-April 2022, followed by a solitary T20I where they bagged a close three-wicket win at Gaddafi Stadium.
Australia also played three of their 2025 Champions Trophy matches in Pakistan.
Teams
Pakistan: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Usman Khan, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Salman Mirza and Abrar Ahmed.
Australia: Travis Head, Matthew Short, Cameron Green, Matthew Renshaw, Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Owen, Josh Philippe, Jack Edwards, Xavier Bartlett, Adam Zampa and Mahli Beardman.
