Oz to play three T20s in Pakistan ahead of WC, Hazlewood eyes full fitness

Former champions Pakistan and Australia will face off in three Twenty20 internationals to wrap up their preparations for next month’s World Cup, the Pakistani cricket board said on Wednesday.

India and Sri Lanka are co-hosts of the Twenty20 World Cup, which runs from February 7 to March 8.

“Pakistan will play Australia in three Twenty20 internationals in Lahore which serves as crucial game time for both sides ahead of the World Cup,” the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement.

They will play at the Pakistani city’s Gaddafi Stadium from January 29 to February 1, it added.

Australia’s T20I squad will arrive in Lahore on January 28.

Pakistan are placed in Group A of the 20-team World Cup along with arch-rivals India, the United States, Namibia and the Netherlands.

Australia are placed in Group B with Sri Lanka, Ireland, Zimbabwe and Oman.

The top two teams from each of the four groups will qualify for the Super Eight stages.

PCB chief operating officer Sumair Ahmed said fans were looking forward to Australia’s visit.

“We are excited and look forward to hosting Australia to mark a blockbuster beginning of the year for Pakistan cricket fans,” he said.

Meanwhile, Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood expects to be ready for the start of the Twenty20 World Cup next month after sitting out their Ashes series victory against England through injuries, the 36-year-old said.

The right-arm quick missed Australia’s 4-1 Ashes victory with a hamstring strain. He subsequently suffered ⁠Achilles soreness in his rehabilitation, but was confident he would be ready for Australia’s tournament opener against Ireland in Colombo on February 11.

“Everything’s going to plan,” Hazlewood told the ESPN Cricinfo website. “We took a few extra weeks once we couldn’t make the Test matches. I had a couple of bowls off the half-run last week. Running’s going well, all the strength stuff’s going well so, yeah, on track.”

Hazlewood’s availability from the start will be a big boost for Australia, who are fretting over the composition of their pace attack.

Australia have named Pat Cummins in the World Cup squad but are considering delaying his return from a lumbar stress injury that prompted the team to rest the quick after his single Ashes appearance in Adelaide.

With their Ashes hero Mitchell Starc retiring from T20 internationals, Xavier Bartlett is set to claim the second pace bowling slot in the group stage of the World Cup.

After the World Cup, Hazlewood will be in action in the Indian Premier League. Later this year, Australia will enter an 11-month stretch during which they will play up to 21 tests.

Hazlewood said it was too early to plan his Test workload. “(With) white ball, you can really sit down and nut it out because you know you’re involved for four or 10 overs pretty much,” he said.

“With the red ball, it is a bit more on the run. You can map out the way you want to train to get ready for that first one, but I think once the tests start then it’s sort of play it by ear and have those conversations on the go.”

Hazlewood was in prime form during the white-ball series against India in October last year.

He took three wickets in three ODI matches, conceding just 72 runs across his spells. The Australian pacer also played in three T20 matches, conceding only 37 runs in 12 overs and taking three wickets.

Australia remain one of the favourites to win the T20 World Cup, having lifted the trophy in 2021 under Aaron Finch’s captaincy. They failed to reach the semi-finals of the 2024 edition after losing to Afghanistan in the quarter-final.

Agencies