Brisbane Heat skipper to lead a team of BBL players against Pakistan in Sydney on Thursday
Lynn named captain for Pakistan tour match
Chris Lynn was disappointed to miss selection in Australia's Twenty20 squad, but the hard-hitting batsman will still play against Sri Lanka and Pakistan this summer.
Fresh from representing the Prime Minister's XI in their one-wicket win over Sri Lanka on Thursday in Canberra, Lynn will captain a Cricket Australia XI against Pakistan on Thursday at Sydney's Bankstown Oval.
CA XI squad: Chris Lynn (c), Will Sutherland, Baxter Holt, Mackenzie Harvey, Alex Ross, Nathan McSweeney, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Chris Green, Ben Dwarshuis, Mickey Edwards, Lloyd Pope, Dan Fallins
The clash will serve as a lead-up fixture to Pakistan's three-match Gillette T20 INTL Series next month against Australia.
Lynn is the most-experienced player in the 12-man squad that is a mix of exciting young players – including four teenagers – and experienced T20 campaigners like Alex Ross and Chris Green.
Ten of the 12 players in the squad hold a BBL contract for this season.
"A match against international opposition provides an ideal opportunity for these players to test and hone their skills in the lead-up to the Big Bash League," said CA national talent and pathway manager Graham Manou.
Pakistan skipper Babar Azam, meanwhile, believes fast bowling could be Pakistan's biggest strength in the three-match international series, which starts on November 3.
Pakistan have selected Mohammad Musa, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Hasnain as their pace options and Babar says they can give his side the edge in Australian conditions.
"There's extra bounce on those (Australian) pitches and our strength is fast bowling," Babar said in Lahore on the eve of team's departure.
"It's a combination of seniors and youngsters. When you go with youngsters, they give 100 per cent to express themselves and it will give us an edge."
Babar is the No.1 ranked T20 batsman in the world and will be leading the top-ranked side for the first time after Pakistan dropped Sarfaraz Ahmed when second-string Sri Lanka recorded a 3-0 sweep in Lahore earlier this month.
One of the key factors in Pakistan's whitewash against Sri Lanka was Babar's run of three poor scores - 13, 3, 27 - at the top order.
But the Pakistan captain said he would continue to open the innings in Australia with Fakhar Zaman, and with Imam-ul-Haq as back-up.
CA XI squad: Chris Lynn (c), Will Sutherland, Baxter Holt, Mackenzie Harvey, Alex Ross, Nathan McSweeney, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Chris Green, Ben Dwarshuis, Mickey Edwards, Lloyd Pope, Dan Fallins
Gillette T20 INTLs v Sri Lanka
Australia squad: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, David Warner, Adam Zampa
Sri Lanka squad: Lasith Malinga (c), Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Danushka Gunathilaka, Avishka Fernando, Niroshan Dickwella, Dasun Shanaka, Shehan Jayasuriya, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Oshada Fernando, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Pradeep, Lahiru Kumara, Isuru Udana, Kasun Rajitha
October 27: First T20I, Adelaide Oval, 2pm (Fox & Kayo)
October 30: Second T20I, Gabba, 6.10pm (Fox & Kayo)
November 1: Third T20I, MCG, 7.10pm (Fox & Kayo)
Gillette T20 INTLs v Pakistan
Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (c), Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Musa Khan, Shadab Khan, Usman Qadir.
November 3: First T20I, SCG, 2.30pm (Fox & Kayo)
November 5: Second T20I, Manuka Oval, 7.10pm (Fox & Kayo)
November 8: Third T20I, Perth Stadium, 4.30pm (Fox & Kayo)