Australia have named their squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Pakistan in November without a captain. A bunch of regular players, including skipper Mitchell Marsh, will skip the tie to prepare for the forthcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India.
When the squad for the matches in Brisbane, Sydney, and Hobart was announced on Monday, none of Australia’s test regulars were included. Josh Inglis, Adam Zampa and Matt Short are in the running for the leadership spot, according to cricket.com.au.
The all-format senior stars will, however, feature in the ODI leg of the series, starting November 4 under Pat Cummins’ leadership.
Cricket Australia, however, said some of the selected players could join the Test squad for the five-match series opener against India in Perth after the final T20 at Bellerive Oval on November 18.
That would be welcome news for the likes of Inglis and Glenn Maxwell, who might still have some hopes of a Test call-up to fill the vacant batting spot left open by the season-ending injury to all-rounder Cameron Green.
Seamers Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis and Spencer Johnson all return to the squad after injuries sustained before or during the white-ball tour of England and Scotland in September.
“It is particularly encouraging to have Xavier, Spencer and Nathan back in the national setup,” said head selector George Bailey.
“It’s another opportunity for them to continue to show their ability on the international stage, as they have done in the past.”
Pakistan named their squads on Sunday, with senior stars Babar Azam, Naseem Shah and Shaheen Afridi slated for a return. Wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan was named as Pakistan’s new limited-overs captain.
Australia T20I squad: Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.
Australia ODI squad: Pat Cummins (c), Sean Abbott, Cooper Connolly, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.
Pakistan ODI squad: Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi
Pakistan T20I Squad: Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Omair Bin Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Usman Khan
– With Reuters inputs
