AUS vs PAK: Test Regulars Left Out as Australia Announce T20I Squad For Pakistan Series

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Test regulars, including skipper Mitchell Marsh, were left out as Australia on Monday (October 28) announced a 13-member squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Pakistan, scheduled to be held from November 14 to 18.

With the Border Gavaskar Trophy set to start just days after the T20I series, Australia has left out the likes of Marsh, Travis Head, Steve Smith, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood from the T20I squad to face Pakistan in a three-match series.

While Marsh and Head have already been rested from the ODI series, Smith, Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood will be involved in the three 50-over matches, which start prior to the T20I series.

Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis and Spencer Johnson return to the T20 setup following their returns from injury. The trio will replace Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood as the pacers, joining Sean Abbott.

While Adam Zampa will be the lone specialist spinner in the bowling attack, Glenn Maxwell, Aaron Hardie, Marcus Stoinis, Cooper Connolly, Matthew Short, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Tim David and Josh Inglis form the batting and all-rounders group.

Cricket Australia has also stated that any member of the T20 squad selected for the first Test will join the rest of the group following the final match in Hobart, which takes place on November 18.

Chair of Selectors George Bailey said: "This group of players have all represented Australia in T20 cricket, so we look forward to them continuing to enhance their international experience throughout this series. We are excited by the mix of experience combined with those closer to the start of their international journeys.

"It is particularly encouraging to have Xavier, Spencer and Nathan back in the national setup. It's another opportunity for them to continue to show their ability on the international stage, as they have done in the past."

Apart from the playing personnel, there would changes to the coaching staff for the T20I series with the regulars set to be preparing for the Tests against India. Andre Borovec will be the stand-in head coach, while Brad Hodge and Hamish Bennett will serve as his assistants.

Australia T20I squad vs Pakistan

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.