Australia set to play ODIs and T20Is in Pakistan in February–March 2026
Cricket Australia (CA) has confirmed that Australia will tour Pakistan in early 2026 for a white-ball series, a move that underscores the deepening cricketing partnership between the two nations. The confirmation came from CA CEO Todd Greenberg during a recent virtual press conference, where he emphasized bilateral cooperation and long-term planning with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
“I believe it will be another good tour of Pakistan. The series against Pakistan is an important part of our schedule,” Greenberg said. “There has been good communication between Pakistan and Australia regarding both red-ball and white-ball series.”
Tour scheduled for February–March 2026 under ICC FTP
As per the ICC Future Tours Programme (2025–2027), the Australia tour of Pakistan will consist of three ODIs and three T20Is scheduled between February and March 2026. It will mark Australia’s first trip to Pakistan since their landmark 2022 tour, which included Test matches, ODIs, and a T20I after a 24-year hiatus.
Reflecting on that tour, Greenberg added: “In 2022, we toured Pakistan after a long gap, and the tour was very successful. The Australian team received a warm welcome. It would be great if such series continue to happen.”
Historic 2024 series adds competitive edge
The 2026 tour follows a highly competitive 2024 series in Australia, where Pakistan defeated Australia 2-1 in the ODI series—their first ODI series win on Australian soil since 2002. However, Australia bounced back by sweeping the T20Is 3-0, adding further anticipation to the upcoming rematch in Pakistan.
Big Bash League may welcome more Pakistani stars
Greenberg also addressed plans to strengthen ties at the domestic level, especially through the Big Bash League (BBL), which is aiming to attract more Pakistani players.
“There is no doubt that Pakistani players are very popular within the community,” Greenberg noted. “If leading Pakistani players come, they will definitely enjoy it here. The league will benefit greatly from these top players.”
With rising fan demand and global interest in Pakistani cricketers, BBL franchises are exploring ways to include more talent from Pakistan in future seasons.
Pakistan begins white-ball preparations under Mike Hesson
Meanwhile, the PCB has launched a white-ball training camp under new white-ball head coach Mike Hesson, signaling the start of a new strategic cycle. The camp includes 22 players, among them Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and others drawn from recent PSL 10 performances.
Players called up for the camp: Usman Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shahid Aziz, Abbas Afridi, Salman Mirza, Mir Hamza, Abdullah Shafique, Khawaja Nafay, Haider Ali, Ahmed Daniyal, Mehran Mumtaz, Khurram Shahzad, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Nawaz, Aamir Jamal, Naseem Shah, Sufiyan Muqeem, Ali Raza, and Tayyab Tahir.
The sessions aim to assess fitness levels, communicate long-term strategy, and finalize white-ball plans for the next cycle. Hesson recently oversaw Pakistan’s 3-0 T20I sweep of Bangladesh—their first home T20I series win since 2021.
Pakistan–Australia relations growing stronger
The confirmation of Australia’s 2026 tour, combined with efforts to integrate Pakistani players into the BBL, reflects a maturing bilateral relationship between CA and PCB. This partnership is evolving beyond traditional tours to include broader strategic alignment across both international and domestic cricket.
The 2026 white-ball series represents more than a set of matches—it is a symbol of growing trust and sporting cooperation between two cricketing powerhouses, laying the foundation for future collaboration on and off the field.
