Australia look to keep juggernaut rolling with eye on semifinals

Heavyweights Australia will aim to maintain their unbeaten run and take a definitive step towards booking a T20 World Cup 2026 semifinal spot when they face Pakistan in a Group A clash in Leeds. The six-time champions have never lost to Pakistan in women's T20Is, the 14-0 record making them overwhelming favourites once again.

While Australia have been dominant on the field, their biggest concerns currently revolve around fitness. They have been severely impacted by injuries, with Phoebe Litchfield sidelined, while Beth Mooney retired hurt as a precaution in the previous game. Even so, Australia have continued to look like the team to beat and will want another convincing performance before their blockbuster final league-stage encounter against India later this week.

Pakistan, meanwhile, have already been knocked out after three successive defeats and have only pride left to play for. A shock win against Australia would not salvage their campaign but throw the group wide open for the remaining contenders.

When: Tuesday, June 23 at 6:30 PM Local | 11 PM IST

What to expect: The ground has statistically been a batting-first venue with a 3-1 record in this T20 World Cup. The average first innings total in wins has been 187 runs.

Australia: Beth Mooney retiring hurt against Netherlands would be a cause of concern for Australia, who are already without Phoebe Litchfield until at least their last group game.

Probable XI: Beth Mooney (wk), Georgia Voll, Ellyse Perry, Ash Gardner, Georgia Wareham, Nicola Carey, Annabel Sutherland, Sophie Molineux (c), Kim Garth, Alana King, Lucy Hamilton

Pakistan: They would likely stick to the same XI for arguably their toughest match-up in the group.

Probable XI: Gull Feroza, Muneeba Ali (wk), Ayesha Zafar, Iram Javed, Saira Jabeen, Aliya Riaz, Fatima Sana (c), Tuba Hasan, Tasmia Rubab, Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal

• Australia lead the batting Powerplay charts with 9 RPO, whereas Pakistan is fifth at 6.77
• No Pakistan batter has ever amassed 100 runs across all games against Australia in T20 World Cups. Aliya Riaz leads the list with a total of 90 runs in 12 matches

"We know how important she is to us, and just when she started getting some tightness in her back, it wasn't worth risking her. She plays a big role for us with the gloves as well, so there is an element of being precautionary. In a World Cup you've just got to weigh everything up and work out what's worth the risk and what's not" – Shelley Nitschke, Australia head coach, on Beth Mooney's retired hurt call