Pakistan and Australia after playing the test series were to play 3 ODIs and 1 T20. Already number of senior players who will not be part of the ODI as they are heading to play IPL in India.
Steve Smith, a big name in the cricket world, will return home early to manage a left elbow problems he carried during the Test matches.
After playing the Test triumph in Pakistan, Steve decided not to risk aggravating any problem in the left elbow which he injured last year and he will now be replace by Queensland Leg-Spinner Mitchell Swepson in the Squad to play the 3 ODIs and 1 T20I starting from 29th March 2022 in Lahore.
Steve Smith will be joining the following stars of Australia Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, David Warner and Glenn Maxwell in missing the white-ball leg of the tour.
Steve Smith said “It’s disappointing to miss these matches against Pakistan but after chatting with the medical staff, I can see the need to take a break at this time. I do not regard this as a major issue but by staying on top of things now, we can ensure that it doesn’t become something more significant further down the line.”
George Bailey said “With the significant amount of cricket to come over the next 18 months, and the fact he has had an issue with the same elbow previously, it is appropriate for Steve to return home at the end of the Test series in Pakistan.
“We have opted not to name a replacement batter as we feel we have options within the existing squad, and Steve’s absence offers up additional opportunities to players within the group.
“We are excited because, with a T20 World Cup later this year and a 50-over Cricket World Cup in Asia next year, these four matches against a quality Pakistan team are a great chance for players to stake their claims for places in those tournaments.
We have decided to include Mitchell Swepson in the white ball squad because it will offer us additional options in the bowling department on surfaces that may well assist spinners.
Mitchell was part of our Twenty20 International squads in both the West Indies and Bangladesh last year, as well as at the T20 World Cup, and having been in Pakistan for the past month he is familiar with conditions.
“We know if called upon he will do an excellent job.”
After winning the Test series, the Australian will be more comfortable, although they will be having a different captain and only few players from the Test squad will be part of the ODI and T20I for Australia.
Australia ODI and T20 squad: Aaron Finch (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Ben McDermott, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Adam Zampa
Pakistan ODI and T20 squad: Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan, Abdullah Shafique*, Asif Afridi, Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq*, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Zahid Mahmood, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim, Saud Shakeel*, Shaheen Afridi, Shahnawaz Dahani, Usman Qadir (*ODIs only).
