David Warner has been left out of Australia’s white-ball squad for the tour of Pakistan. The veteran opener will play in the three-match Test series but will sit out the three ODIs and the lone Twenty20 international.
Australia named a 16-player squad for the four limited-overs games as they prepare for their first trip to Pakistan since 1998. But it does not include Test captain Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon, who are all set to return to Australia after the third Test in Lahore. The same goes for Warner, who was rested for the recent Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka.
Explosive allrounder Glenn Maxwell has also been granted leave to get married in India in late March.
Test wicketkeeper Alex Carey is in the squad, despite not playing a white-ball game for Australia since August, as is Western Australian Josh Inglis, who enjoyed a stunning debut international series in the recently completed T20s against Sri Lanka.
Star batter Steve Smith, who suffered a concussion during the Sri Lanka series, has been included despite concerns around his form in limited-overs contests.
“We have picked a talented and versatile squad with a number of challenges to juggle, including the tour structure of predominantly 50 over games, management of several multi-format players in the medium to long term; and our need to build experience and depth in preparation for two short form World Cups within the next 18 months,” chairman of selectors George Bailey said.
“We’re confident the squad can both compete successfully on this tour and continue our progress towards those crucial tournaments.”
The first ODI will take place in Rawalpindi on 29 March, with the third Test scheduled from 21-25 March.
Australia’s white-ball squad: Aaron Finch (Vic, capt), Sean Abbott (NSW), Ashton Agar (WA), Jason Behrendorff (WA), Alex Carey (SA), Nathan Ellis (TAS), Cameron Green (WA), Travis Head (SA), Josh Inglis (WA), Marnus Labuschagne (QLD), Mitchell Marsh (WA), Ben McDermott (TAS), Kane Richardson (SA), Steve Smith (NSW), Marcus Stoinis (WA), Adam Zampa (NSW).