Concerns are rising in Pakistan’s Cricket community as SENA countries increasingly leave out key players for tours. This issue came to light after Australia lost by 22 runs in the first T20I of the ongoing warm-up series. Notably, several players heading to the T20 World Cup, including Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Tim David, Glenn Maxwell, and Nathan Ellis, were absent due to workload management and recovery from injuries.
In the opening T20I on Thursday, Australia introduced three debutants, while key players like captain Mitchell Marsh, all-rounder Marcus Stoinis, wicketkeeper Josh Inglis, and main pace bowlers Scott Abbott and Ben Dwarshuis did not play.
Criticism from Pakistan’s Cricket Community
This decision drew criticism within Pakistan, with many questioning Australia’s commitment to the series.
Omair Alvi, a cricket analyst, said:
“Coming here without some of their best players for the first match feels like an insult to Pakistan cricket fans.”
Former Test captain Moin Khan noted that while Australia aims to protect its players for the T20 World Cup, the approach is disappointing for Pakistani fans.
He said:
“Recently, we’ve seen New Zealand, South Africa, and Australia send weakened teams to Pakistan. It seems like they are just fulfilling their obligations.”
Haroon Rasheed, a former Test player, emphasized that the Australian team still had a strong chance to win, and asked why they were not using their best players.
He said:
“It’s strange to not field your strongest players in a three-match series so close to the World Cup, especially when the tournament will be played in similar conditions.”
This tour marks Australia’s first visit to Pakistan since 2022 across all formats.
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The crowded International schedule and the rise of various leagues have made it necessary for teams to rest key players for bigger tournaments.
He also added:
“Which players these countries send is not our concern. For us, it’s important that bilateral commitments are honored on time.”
