ISLAMABAD: The Australian cricket team, headed by skipper Patrick James Cummins, reached Pakistan Sunday today for the first time in 24 years.
Australia last visited Pakistan in November 1998.
Australian cricket team arrives in Pakistan after 24 years!#Australia #Australiacricket #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/TgrrbVV2Kp
— Naylasays (@NaylaAmir) February 27, 2022
During the tour, the Aussie men will take on Green Shirts in three Test matches, the same number of ODIs and one T20.
The first match of the Test series will begin on March 4 in Rawalpindi. It will be followed by Tests in Karachi and Lahore before three ODIs and a single T20, all in Rawalpindi.
They last played in Pakistan in 1998, winning the three-Test series 1-0 and blanking the hosts in the three one-day internationals.
Great to be here in Islamabad. Excited for the series! https://t.co/6b8IYSY64y
— Pat Cummins (@patcummins30) February 27, 2022
Those who arrived in Pakistan today include Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith (vc), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Marsh, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc and others.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials welcomed the players upon arrival at the Islamabad International Airport.
Test schedule:
March 4-8 — First Test, Rawalpindi
March 12-16 — Second Test, Karachi
March 21-25 — Third Test, Lahore
Pakistan squad
Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Fawad Alam, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, and Zahid Mahmood.
Australia squad
Cricket Australia has already announced an 18-member Test squad.
Pat Cummins (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, and David Warner.
Security
“The squad will be given ‘head of state-level security’,” a spokesman for Pakistan’s interior ministry told to a media outlet.
“Such arrangements are only made for high-level foreign delegations, (and) the president and prime minister of Pakistan.”
#PAKvAUS 🇵🇰🏏🇦🇺: Australian Cricket Team arrives in Pakistan after 24 years#WelcomeToPakistan @TheRealPCB @CricketAus https://t.co/vqAX7g0GBc
— Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) February 27, 2022
Roads will be blocked off when the Australians make the 15-kilometre (11-mile) commute, with their team bus to be shadowed by army helicopters.
Snipers will be positioned on buildings surrounding the stadium, while nearby shops and offices have been ordered to close on match days, the interior ministry said.
Similar arrangements will be in place for matches in Karachi and Lahore.
The Australians will be confined to quarters for 24 hours after arrival for Covid tests, before intense training ahead of the first Test starting March 4.
