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Marsh Confident Despite Limited Prep for Pakistan T20Is, Eyes World Cup

Australian captain Mitchell Marsh expressed confidence in his team despite a short turnaround from the BBL final to the T20I series against Pakistan in Lahore. He acknowledged that several key players, including Pat Cummins and Glenn Maxwell, are missing this tour as they recover from fitness issues. Marsh emphasized the series' importance for preparations ahead of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. He also praised Pakistani stars like Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi, anticipating a tough challenge in foreign conditions.

Key Points: Marsh on Australia's T20I Prep vs Pakistan, World Cup Build-Up

  • Short BBL turnaround for Aussie squad
  • Key players missing Pakistan series
  • Series vital for T20 World Cup prep
  • Marsh praises Pakistan's star players
  • Team to reunite in Sri Lanka
3 min read

'We have some guys who weren't ready to be here,' Marsh reflects on limited preps for Pakistan T20Is

Australia captain Mitchell Marsh addresses short BBL turnaround and missing key players ahead of crucial Pakistan T20I series for World Cup preparation.

"We have got some guys that weren't quite ready to be here - Mitchell Marsh"

Lahore, Jan 29

Australian captain Mitchell Marsh is confident of the team's strength, saying the short gap between the Big Bash League Final and the Pakistan T20I series, starting on Thursday on Lahore, will not affect their chances.

Marsh, along with seven other players in the Australian squad played in the final of the BBL on Sunday and reached Lahore 24 hours before the series opener, but according to the skipper, it will be the last thing to focus on before the tri-series, which is crucial for preparation ahead of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, commences on February 7.

"I think one of the things about our group and most international teams is that preparation can look different for every tour," Marsh told the media ahead of their opening match.

"The majority of the group have been preparing in Dubai; other guys have been preparing by playing games throughout the Big Bash. We're ready to go, and we're looking forward to a great series," he added.

Australia's captain also spoke about missing the five key players, who include Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Tim David, Nathan Ellis and Glenn Maxwell, who will miss this series as they are rebuilding from respective fitness issues. He also confirmed that all of them will join the team in Sri Lanka, where they will play their first T20 WC match.

"This tour is really important for our World Cup preparations, and we have got some guys that weren't quite ready to be here; they're back at home training and preparing to meet us in Sri Lanka, so no stress there from our end," said Marsh.

The 34-year-old also praised Pakistan's fast bowling and players like Shaheen Afridi and Babar Azam, who can make an impact.

"Winning away from home is always hard, and especially in conditions like this that can be foreign to us, so we're just really excited about the opportunity. We know that Pakistan has got some amazing cricketers, obviously Babar Azam, Shaheen, but we know that in these conditions, it's going to be a really good challenge, and that's one that we're looking forward to," he said.

"Pakistan has a great history of fast bowlers. No doubt we'll be looking forward to that challenge, especially obviously. He's an amazing bowler, and it's going to be a great challenge for our group," he added.

Australia will play its first match in the World Cup on February 11 in Colombo.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Sarah B
Marsh is being very diplomatic here. Saying "no stress" about missing five first-choice players is a bit of a stretch. This feels like a second-string Aussie side touring. Pakistan should really capitalize on this opportunity to build momentum before the World Cup.
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Arjun K
As an Indian fan, watching Pakistan vs Australia is always fun! But honestly, this series feels like a warm-up. The real prep is for the World Cup. Smart move by Australia to rest their big guns. Hope our Men in Blue are watching and planning their strategy too! 💙
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Priyanka N
Respect to Marsh for praising Babar and Shaheen. They are world class, no doubt. But I wish our cricket commentators and captains were this gracious about opposition players more often. Good sportsmanship is important. Looking forward to some competitive cricket!
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Karthik V
The scheduling is crazy! BBL final to a T20I series in 24 hours? Player fatigue is a real issue. The ICC and boards need to look at this. These guys are humans, not machines. Hope there are no injuries because of this tight window.
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Michael C
It's all about depth. Australia can afford to send a slightly weakened team and still be competitive. That's the sign of a strong cricket system. Other teams, take note. Building bench strength is crucial for long-term success in this packed calendar.

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