Australia rest five big guns for Pakistan T20 series

Australia will rest five big guns including Pat Cummins for a three-match Twenty20 tour ahead of the World Cup.

Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Glenn Maxwell, Tim David and Nathan Ellis will all miss the away series in Pakistan starting on January 29.

Australia's T20 World Cup begins on February 11 with selectors opting to take no risks with the five key players.

Instead, fringe players including Mahli Beardman, Ben Dwarshuis and Jack Edwards have been included in a 17-man squad for the Pakistan series.

"The series is a great opportunity for those on the brink of selection and some young players we rate highly for valuable experience," chairman of selectors George Bailey said on Monday.

"Some are already experienced international players, along with Mahli Beardman who has been with the group a number of times, and Jack Edwards who joined for the last one-day match against India in Sydney last year."

Australia will play in Lahore on January 29, January 31 and February 1 before continuing to open their World Cup campaign in Sri Lanka.

AUSTRALIA SQUAD FOR PAKISTAN T20 SERIES:

Mitchell Marsh (capt), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Mahli Beardman, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitch Owen, Josh Philippe, Matthew Renshaw, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.