Melbourne, Jan 19 (NationPress) Australia has unveiled its roster for the upcoming T20I series against Pakistan, set to commence on January 31 in Lahore. Mahli Beardman and Jack Edwards have made the cut in the 17-member touring squad, thanks to their impressive performances in the Big Bash League.

This series serves as a precursor to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup scheduled in Sri Lanka and India. Following the three matches in Pakistan, Australia will head to Sri Lanka to gear up for their first World Cup encounter against Ireland in Colombo. Notably, 10 players from the World Cup squad will participate in the matches in Pakistan.

Nathan Ellis, Tim David, Josh Hazlewood, Glenn Maxwell, and Pat Cummins are set to rejoin the World Cup squad in Sri Lanka as they recover from injuries while managing their workloads in preparation for the World Cup.

Pat Cummins has been on the sidelines since his sole appearance during the Ashes series, which helped Australia secure the urn in Adelaide. Tim David's participation in the Big Bash was cut short due to a hamstring injury sustained while playing for the Hurricanes on December 26.

Furthermore, Josh Hazlewood has not taken the field since early November due to a right hamstring injury sustained while bowling for NSW in the Sheffield Shield. An Achilles issue during his rehabilitation kept him out of the entire Ashes series.

In addition, Sean Abbott, Beardman, Ben Dwarshuis, Edwards, Mitch Owen, Josh Philippe, and Matt Renshaw have been called up to the squad.

Both Beardman and Edwards are yet to make their international debuts, although they have been included in Australia's white-ball squads during India's tour earlier this summer. Beardman participated in the T20I squad against India last year, while Edwards was a brief member of the ODI squad.

“This series represents an excellent opportunity for those on the cusp of selection, as well as some young talents we have high hopes for, to gain invaluable experience with the World Cup squad in Pakistan,” said chief selector George Bailey.

He added, “Some of these players are already seasoned international competitors, alongside Mahli Beardman, who has been integrated into the group multiple times, and Jack Edwards, who joined for the last one-day match against India in Sydney last year.”

Cricket Australia announced that players still competing in the remaining matches of the BBL will join the squad in Pakistan once their tournament concludes.

Australia is scheduled to play three T20Is in Lahore from January 29 to February 1, before kicking off their T20 World Cup journey on February 11.

Australia's squad against Pakistan: Mitchell Marsh (capt), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Mahli Beardman, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitch Owen, Josh Philippe, Matthew Renshaw, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa