Cricket Australia (CA) has officially confirmed a white-ball tour to Pakistan set for early 2026, signaling a continued effort to strengthen cricketing ties between the two nations.
Speaking in a recent virtual press conference, CA Chief Executive Todd Greenberg shared optimism about the tour, highlighting the importance of Australia’s ongoing collaboration with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
“It’s shaping up to be another positive tour. The Pakistan series is a key part of our calendar. Communication between both boards has been strong, across both red-ball and white-ball formats,” Greenberg stated.
He also emphasized a desire for more bilateral series: “We are actively exploring further opportunities to play against Pakistan in the future.”
Reflecting on Australia’s successful return to Pakistan in 2022 after a lengthy hiatus, Greenberg recalled the warm reception the team received:
“That tour was a major success. The hospitality was excellent, and we’d love to see more such series take place.”
Beyond international fixtures, Greenberg also discussed the Big Bash League’s (BBL) goal of attracting more Pakistani talent, acknowledging the players’ popularity and the value they bring to the league.
“There’s no doubt Pakistani players are fan favorites. We’re committed to bringing global stars to the BBL, and Pakistani cricketers would add great strength to our franchises,” he noted.
He added, “I’m hopeful we’ll see several Pakistani players in the next BBL edition.”
Australia last hosted Pakistan for a white-ball series in November 2024. Under Mohammad Rizwan’s leadership, Pakistan claimed a historic 2-1 win in the ODI series—its first in Australia since 2002. However, Australia bounced back to sweep the T20I series 3-0.
According to the ICC’s Future Tours Programme (FTP) for 2025–2027, Australia will visit Pakistan in February–March 2026 for a white-ball series comprising three ODIs and three T20Is.
PCB Launches White-Ball Training Camp for Top Performers
In preparation for upcoming assignments, the Pakistan Cricket Board has called 22 standout white-ball players for a training camp. The roster includes core stars Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
The camp, which began June 3, will run through June 5 with players reporting in three groups. During the sessions, the PCB will outline its strategic roadmap, while also evaluating players’ fitness and recent performances.
According to sources, senior players will be present across all three days, alongside top performers from the recently concluded Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 10. White-ball head coach Mike Hesson is also expected to meet with players individually to discuss future plans.
Camp Attendees:
Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, 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, Tayyab Tahir.
Pakistan’s white-ball team is entering a new phase under Hesson’s leadership. The 50-year-old New Zealander made a strong start, guiding the team to a 3-0 T20I series sweep over Bangladesh—Pakistan’s first home series win since December 2021.
Following a short break, Pakistan is expected to return to Bangladesh next month for a possible three-match T20I series.
