ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday officially unveiled the schedule for Australia’s much-anticipated three-match T20I tour of Pakistan, setting the stage for a high-voltage contest at Lahore’s upgraded Gaddafi Stadium later this month.
The PCB has brushed aside concerns over fog and mist, formally confirming that the T20I series will go ahead as scheduled in Lahore. A PCB official said the decision followed a detailed inspection of the venue by the Australian security team during its visit to Pakistan last month, after which the Board gave the green signal for the short series at the Gaddafi Stadium.
“While there is always a possibility of fog at this time of year, we have planned accordingly. Each match will start almost an hour earlier than the original schedule to minimise any risk of disruption,” the official said, expressing confidence that the series would be completed smoothly.
The all-T20I series will be played under lights on January 29, 31 and February 1, with Australia’s squad due to arrive in Lahore on Wednesday, January 28. In all three matches, the toss will take place at 5:30pm (PKT), while the first ball will be bowled at 6:00pm, promising prime-time action for fans across the country.
The series assumes added significance as it provides crucial match practice ahead of the ICC Men’s T20I World Cup 2026, where Pakistan are drawn in Group A and Australia in Group B. With both teams expected to fine-tune combinations, test bench strength and sharpen death-overs strategies, the contest is likely to be fiercely competitive despite its short length.
This tour will mark Australia’s third visit to Pakistan since the resumption of international cricket in the country in 2022. The Aussies toured Pakistan in March–April 2022, playing a full series comprising Tests, ODIs and a lone T20I, and returned again to feature in three ICC Champions Trophy 2025 matches on Pakistani soil, underscoring growing confidence in Pakistan as a safe and vibrant host of top-tier international cricket.
The Gaddafi Stadium holds special memories for the visitors as well. Australia clinched a thrilling three-wicket victory in the only T20I they have played at the venue, on April 5, 2022, a match that went down to the wire and showcased Lahore’s electrifying atmosphere. PCB Chief Operating Officer Sumair Ahmed Syed welcomed the Australians and urged fans to play their part in making the series a spectacle.
“We are excited and look forward to hosting Australia for the three-match T20I series here in Lahore. The tour marks a blockbuster beginning of the year for Pakistan cricket fans, and I urge them to turn out in numbers to support both teams as they put the final touches to their T20 World Cup preparations,” he said.
“The Gaddafi Stadium has become a familiar sight for the Australian team, as they have played a Test, five ODIs and a T20I here since March 2022.”
With Pakistan’s flair and Australia’s pedigree set to collide under Lahore’s lights, the series is expected to draw packed stands and global attention, further reinforcing Pakistan’s status as a thriving hub for international cricket.
Series schedule (all matches at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore):
1st T20I: Thursday, January 29 – 6:00pm PKT
2nd T20I: Saturday, January 31 – 6:00pm PKT
3rd T20I: Sunday, February 1 – 6:00pm PKT.
