T20 World Cup: Pakistan can brag about series win, but don't count Australia out

Pakistan handed Australia the worst possible conclusion to their T20 World Cup warm-up as the Mitchell Marsh-led side slipped to their heaviest T20 international defeat, completing a third successive collapse. A 3-0 sweep of Australia just days before a World Cup was always going to feel bigger than most bilateral results. The scenes reflected that. Packed stands, fans celebrating as if a trophy had already been secured, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif tweeting twice in delight and PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi stepping into the dressing room to congratulate the players.

It looked and felt like a statement. Yet once the immediate emotion fades, the series says as much about Australia’s preparation as it does about Pakistan’s momentum. Australia were beaten convincingly, but the circumstances were far from straightforward. They lost all three tosses, batted second every time and struggled against Pakistan’s spinners while chasing. On the scoreboard, it read as dominance. Behind the scenes, it was a tour shaped by rotation and caution.

Australia travelled with a half-strength squad and a clear focus on workload management. Glenn Maxwell, Tim David, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Ellis were left at home to recover from injuries ahead of rejoining the squad in Sri Lanka. Marsh, Travis Head and Xavier Bartlett played only two matches, while Josh Inglis, Marcus Stoinis and Ben Dwarshuis featured just once. The priority was protecting key players rather than chasing a short-term result.

Pakistan, in contrast, committed fully. Their spinners controlled the middle overs, their batters played with freedom and confidence grew with every Australian collapse. The celebrations matched the mood, and the series was framed as a marker of progress.

But context matters, especially when Australia are involved.

WHAT DOES HISTORY SAY?

At the 2024 T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies, Australia were knocked out at the Super Eights stage after defeats to Afghanistan and India, a campaign that fell short of expectations. Two years on, the focus is firmly on setting that right. The core of the squad remains intact, with Pat Cummins the most significant absentee due to a lingering back injury, while Mitchell Starc's retirement from T20 internationals has reshaped the attack, even as experience continues to define the side.

Australia losing a series just before a World Cup has long ceased to be a warning sign and has instead become a familiar pattern. From the 2007 ODI World Cup to the 2021 T20 World Cup, and from the 2023 World Test Championship final to the 2023 ODI World Cup, Australia have repeatedly entered global tournaments off the back of defeats, only to go on and lift the trophy. Pre-tournament stumbles, more often than not, have aligned with silverware, making such losses less a cause for panic and more a matter of timing.

AUSTRALIA AMONG FAVOURITES

Australia will still begin the 2026 T20 World Cup among the favourites. Since the last edition, they have won 17 and lost just seven of their 24 completed matches. That record stood at 17 wins from 21 before the recent 3-0 loss in Lahore with a depleted squad.

Cummins’ absence has opened the door for Ben Dwarshuis, while the side continues to lean heavily on its depth of all-rounders. Former captain Ricky Ponting believes that balance remains Australia’s biggest strength heading into the tournament.

The Pakistan series also served a practical purpose. It allowed Australia to spend time in South Asian conditions ahead of the Sri Lanka leg of the World Cup. Cameron Green was tried at No.3 in the first two matches and is expected to retain that role, while Marsh and Travis Head continue their aggressive partnership at the top of the order.

A familiar senior core remains, now supported by Green, Josh Inglis and Nathan Ellis as regular selections. With Cummins unavailable and Starc no longer part of the T20 set-up, new pace options are emerging, with Xavier Bartlett set to feature in his first World Cup.

Australia have also strengthened its spin department. Alongside Adam Zampa and Glenn Maxwell, left-armers Matthew Kuhnemann and Cooper Connolly provide variety. Connolly arrives after a productive Big Bash League campaign with Perth Scorchers.

AUSTRALIA'S BEST PREDICTED XI

Mitchell Marsh (capt), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis (wk), Tim David, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

AUSTRALIA'S GROUP FIXTURES

Australia open their campaign on February 11 against Ireland. They have been drawn in Group B alongside Ireland, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and Oman.

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• February 11: Ireland, Colombo (3pm local)
• February 13: Zimbabwe, Colombo (11am local)
• February 16: Sri Lanka, Pallekele (7pm local)
• February 20: Oman, Pallekele (7pm local)