Pakistan v Australia: The Ultimate Guide
Australia are touring Pakistan for the first time in 24 years.
The tour includes matches in every format, starting on 4 March in Rawalpindi with the first of three Tests. The subsequent two Tests will be played in Karachi from 12-16 March and in Lahore from 21-25 March.
The sides will also contest a three-match ODI series – all matches will be played in Rawalpindi – before the tour ends with a one-off T20I in Rawalpindi on 5 April.
Every match will be live and on-demand on ICC.tv for subscribers in select regions (full list below).
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A White Ball Pass to watch every ball of the three ODIs and a T20I live is available on ICC.tv for $2.99 USD.
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The Pakistan v Australia Tests, ODIs and T20I will available live and on-demand on ICC.tv in the following regions:
Andorra, Antarctica, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bouvet Island, Brazil, British Indian Ocean Territory, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Chile, China, Christmas Island, Cocos Island, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, East Timor, Ecuador, Estonia, Falkland Islands, Faroe islands, Finland, France, French Guiana, Georgia, Germany, Gibraltar, Guyana, Greece, Heard Island, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Caledonia, North Korea, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vatican City, Venezuela, Vietnam
First Test: 4-8 March in Rawalpindi
Second Test: 12-16 March in Karachi
Third Test: 21-25 March in Lahore
**First ODI:**29 March in Rawalpindi
**Second ODI:**31 March in Rawalpindi
**Third ODI:**2 April in Rawalpindi
**First T20I:**5 April in Rawalpindi
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Pakistan Test Squad: Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Fawad Alam, Imam-ul-Haq, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood, Faheem Ashraf, Nauman Ali, Mohammad Rizwan, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Sajid Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Zahid Mahmood.
Australia Test Squad: Pat Cummins (c), David Warner, Marcus Harris, Steven Smith, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Cameron Green, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Scott Boland, Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson.
The three-match Test series will be a part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship 2021-23 cycle.
Under the new points system of the World Test Championship, each match is allotted a total of 12 points, irrespective of the length of the series. A win fetches the team 12 points while a tie or a draw is 6 points and 4 points respectively.
On the WTC23 table, Australia are currently placed No.2, with Pakistan just below them on third.
The Tests will be followed by a three-match ODI series, with the matches forming a part of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Super League, where Australia are placed 7th and Pakistan 9th.
The last time Pakistan and Australia were up against each other in a bilateral series, Australia dominated. They contested in three T20Is and two tests, and Australia swept it all, winning the T20Is 2-0 before subjecting Pakistan to innings defeats in the two-Test series.
Pakistan, who are yet to win a Test series Down Under, fielded a young side, and there were bright spots throughout the series. But Australia had too much for them. After opting to bat in the first Test in Brisbane, Pakistan were bowled out for 240 in 86.2 overs. David Warner (154), Joe Burns (97) and Marnus Labuschagne (185) then powered Australia to 580 in their response, helping their team take a 340-run lead.
Pakistan put up a fight, with Babar Azam (104) and Mohammad Rizwan (95) impressing, but they were eventually bowled out for 335, helping Australia win the first test by an innings and five runs.
The second Test in Adelaide followed a similar pattern. It was a day-night affair and once again the Australian top order put on a show. David Warner broke records aplenty, finishing unbeaten on 335*, and with Marnus Labuschagne scoring his second century of the series, Australia could declare on the second day after posting 589/3.
Pakistan were bowled out for 302 in their response, and were all out again for 239 when following on, as Australia won by an innings and 48 runs.
A different generation of Australian players also emerged as winners the last time they toured Pakistan, in 1998. It was a three-match Test series, played in Rawalpindi, Peshawar and Karachi. Australia won the first Test in Rawalpindi by an innings and 99 runs, with centuries from Michael Slater and Steve Waugh setting up the victory.
The subsequent two Tests ended in draws, and Australia took the series 1-0. Can they repeat the feat?