The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly approached Cricket Australia with a request to expand the upcoming T20I series between the two nations.
The board is seeking five matches instead of the previously scheduled three, aiming to give Pakistan more preparation ahead of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
The move comes after Australia reportedly requested that Pakistan not recall its Big Bash League (BBL) players for the series against Sri Lanka.
Pakistan’s star players like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan, and Hasan Ali were granted conditional NOCs by the PCB, allowing them to play in the BBL as long as they remained available for the Sri Lanka T20I tour.
However, the clash between the Sri Lanka series and the BBL season has complicated the arrangements.
In response to Australia’s request, the PCB is now pushing for a longer series Down Under, which is scheduled from January 30 to February 5, 2026. The board believes that five T20Is will provide better match practice for Pakistan’s top stars and ensure a stronger build-up to the T20 World Cup.
Negotiations between the two boards are ongoing as both sides work to balance the availability of Pakistan’s marquee players with their international commitments, while also safeguarding their participation in the lucrative BBL tournament.
