Limited-overs captain Aaron Finch is battling to be fit for Australia´s opening Twenty20 against Sri Lanka after picking up a side strain.
The top-order batsman is sitting out Victoria´s ongoing Sheffield Shield clash against Western Australia in a bid to be ready for the first of three games against the Sri Lankans in Adelaide on Sunday.
"It started out as a little back niggle and it´s just a little tear in my side. So hopefully not too long. It´s been a week since I did it," Finch told Perth radio 6PR at the weekend.
Read more: Misbah names Pakistan squad for Australia series, Rizwan replaces Sarfaraz
He said he hoped to play a one-day game for his state on Wednesday but "if I can still feel it and it´s a little niggle there, I think the medical staff will probably take the conservative route".
If fit, Finch is expected to open the Australian innings with David Warner, before Steve Smith comes in at first drop.
After Adelaide, Australia face the Lasith Malinga-led Sri Lankans in Brisbane and Melbourne before Pakistan arrive for T20s in Sydney, Canberra and Perth.
Lahore Qalandars to make first pick in platinum category during player draft event to be held on Jan 11, 2025
Cricketing body notifies ICC of decision made after chairman met with UAE's president
Opening batter becomes first in ODI cricket history to get out on ducks in all games of a series
Sufiyan Muqeem, Saim Ayub starred with ball, while Shaneen and Naseem claimed two wickets each
Uncapped Sufiyan earns his place in lineup on back of stellar performances in T20I series against Zimbabwe
Gongadi Trisha's impressive half-century saves the day for Blue Shirts