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Australia short on players for T20I against Pakistan

Aaron Finch

Australia’s newly appointed T20 captain Aaron Finch might not have selection worries ahead of his first game in-charge as Champions League T20 commitments mean one or two players of the 13-member squad will not be available for the match against Pakistan.

CLT20 final on Saturday and T20I on Sunday

At least one player - Glenn Maxwell (Kings XI Punjab), Pat Cummins (Kolkata Knight Riders) and Cameron Boyce (Hobart Hurricanes) - will be part of the CLT20 final in India scheduled for October 4, thereby will not make it in time for the only T20 on Sunday. 

Fully aware of the situation, Cricket Australia (CA) have confirmed that players who qualify with their respective teams to play in the final of the global T20 competition will not be required to turn up for Australia, taking the country vs club debate to a new level.  

"Due to the condensed nature of the schedule, should any Australian player be required for the Champions League final they will be deemed unavailable for the T20 international against Pakistan on October 5," read a CA statement while announcing the squads for Australia’s tour of UAE.  

25-year-old leg-spinner Boyce, who played just one game for Hurricanes so far in CLT20, might rue missing out on his Australian debut while he warms the bench in case his team qualify for the final to be played at Bangalore. 

Finch looking up to ODI players to fill in

Speaking on the situation, Finch told ESPNcricinfo: "If they're available, great, if they're not, there'll be someone else to step into their shoes. In Maxwell's case, we've got a couple of guys here as cover. Phil Hughes is here for the one-day series coming up so it might mean he slots into the side somewhere.

"But it's exciting for those guys to play in a world tournament. It's just another thing that gets thrown up and you have to embrace it. The Champions League is such a big competition and a world competition now, guys have to be given the opportunity to perform there on that stage.

"We'll probably know our XI once the Champions League semi-finals have happened. If there's a spot there, we're going to have to fill it. Whether it's Hughesy, whether he bats at the top of the order or in the middle order if he gets an opportunity, we'll have to wait and see.

"Nathan Lyon started his career as a Twenty20 player and did an exceptional job. He's had some good success when he's played limited-overs cricket as well. They'd be very well placed to fill a spot if need be."

CA’s official twitter account tweeted that the Australian team will be involved in training today:

Australia’s T20 squad 

Aaron Finch (c), Sean Abbott, Cameron Boyce, Pat Cummins, James Faulkner, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner, Shane Watson. 

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