Saim Ayub produced a brilliant all-round display to power Pakistan to a 22-run victory against a largely second-string Australia in the first Twenty20 international between the teams in Lahore on Thursday.
Electing to bat first against an Australia squad led by makeshift captain Travis Head and including three debutants, Pakistan posted a competitive 168-8 with Ayub (40) top-scoring for them.
Australia managed 146-8 in reply after their number 10 batter Xavier Bartlett produced an unbeaten 34 off 25 balls.
.@SaimAyub7 is the player of the match for his all-round heroics 🌟#PAKvAUS | #MateWeAreReady | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/vkLUM0mnG7
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) January 29, 2026
Earlier, Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan fell for a first-ball duck but Ayub and Pakistan captain Salman Agha (39) steadied their innings with a 74-run stand.
Australia legspinner Adam Zampa (4-24) dismissed both the batters and went on to claim the wickets of Babar Azam (24) and Usman Khan (18) to restrict Pakistan, who had looked set for a 175-plus total at one stage.
Ayub continued to trouble Australia when the visitors returned to begin their chase.
The offspinner dismissed Matthew Short in his first over and landed a bigger blow in his second, when he removed Head (23), who led Australia as regular skipper Mitchell Marsh arrived late after completing his Big Bash League duties Down Under.
To make matters worse for the tourists, both Matt Renshaw and Mitchell Owen were run out.
Mohammad Nawaz effectively sealed the match in Pakistan's favour when the left-arm spinner cut short Green's promising knock of 36 in the 13th over.
Bartlett smashed two sixes in his entertaining knock, which merely reduced Australia's margin of defeat.
The remaining two matches of the series, a warm-up event for next month's T20 World Cup, will be played at the same venue on Saturday and Sunday.