PAK vs AUS 2026: Ayub, Shadab and Nawaz consign Australia to 3-0 series whitewash

Pakistan mauled Australia by a ginormous 111-run margin in the third and final T20I of the home series in Lahore, accomplishing a 3-0 sweep to conclude their dress rehearsal for the 2026 T20 World Cup. It was Australia’s biggest loss in terms of runs, surpassing the 100-run shellacking at the hands of England in 2005.

Pakistan ticked all the boxes in a glaringly one-sided series, comfortably outplaying their adversaries as their totals continued to swell up while Australia’s responses weakened progressively.

After opting to bat for the third time in a row, Pakistan racked up their biggest T20I total against Australia – 207 for 6 – on the back of half-centuries from Saim Ayub and Babar Azam, followed by Shadab Khan’s late blitz. Pakistan’s start was far from ideal: Fakhar Zaman extended his rut, holing out to long off for 10 off 7, while skipper Salman Agha was outfoxed by Ben Dwarshuis’ slower one.

From there, the struggling Babar (unbeaten 50 off 36) hit his straps finally, finding gaps regularly in a 69-run partnership with fellow half-centurion Ayub. Babar had displayed his mood early on, whacking the first ball he faced for a boundary through the covers before sending Adam Zampa over midwicket.

The partnership was brought to a halt when Ayub miscued Matthew Kunhemann, with Matt Renshaw grabbing a diving stunner to send him back for 56 off 37 in the 12th over. Shadab, however, came out swinging, clattering five sixes in his 19-ball 46 to push Pakistan past 200, which would prove well out of Australia’s reach.

Left-arm Kuhnemann was the most economical of the six bowling options Australia employed, returning with 1 for 27 in his quota, while left-arm pacer Dwarshuis managed 2 for 39. The other four bowlers took a significant beating, with Cameron Green leaking 43 runs for one wicket in three overs and Cooper Connolly conceding 47 runs for one wicket in his four. To make matters worse, their frontline spinner Adam Zampa picked up a groin injury and did not come out to bat.

Much like the previous two fixtures, Australia struggled visibly in coming to terms with the slow and low Lahore track. Shaheen Afridi knocked over skipper Mitchell Marsh in the first over before cleaning up Renshaw in his next.

Left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz then weaved a web around Australia, claiming 5 for 18, while Abrar Ahmed and Naseem Shah chipped in with a wicket apiece, restricting the visitors to a paltry 96, with only Green (22), Marcus Stoinis (23) and Josh Phillippe (14) reaching double digits.