Injured trio not right to return but still no room for Smith in Aussie squad for T20 World Cup warm-up stoush

Australia have announced their squad for the three-match Twenty20 tour of Pakistan before the World Cup with Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Tim David still sidelined by injury.

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The gun trio will be kept in cotton wool leading into the tournament with Glenn Maxwell and and Nathan Ellis also getting a rest against Pakistan for the series which gets underway on January 29.

Young fast bowler Mahli Beardman and experienced counterparts Ben Dwarshuis and Jack Edwards have been given a call-up for the 17-man squad to play in Pakistan before the main team competes for the Cup in India and Sri Lanka from February 11.

Veteran batter Steve Smith has not been picked in either squad despite smashing a hundred and a half-century in his past two knocks during his brief BBL stint with the Sydney Sixers.

“The series is a great opportunity for those on the brink of selection and some young players we rate highly for valuable experience,” selection chief George Bailey said.

Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins. (Photo by Debajyoti Chakraborty/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

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“Some are already experienced international players, along with Mahli Beardman who has been with the group a number of times, and Jack Edwards who joined for the last one-day match against India in Sydney last year.”

Beardman has taken eight wickets for Perth Scorchers in the BBL this summer and is seen as a three-format fast bowler of the future for Australia.

Australia will play three games in Lahore over four days before travelling to Sri Lanka.

Australia’s squad for Pakistan T20 series

Mitchell Marsh (c), 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.

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