ISLAMABAD, March 2, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - Ashes-winning Australia will face
unfamiliar conditions, heavy security and unpredictable, but talented,
opponents when they begin their first Test in Pakistan for 24 years on
Friday.

  Having landed in Islamabad just three days ago to be immediately engulfed
in "head of state-level security", the Australians have had little time to
acclimatise to conditions in Rawalpindi, where the first Test will be played.

  But they may like what they see as they practise, with a pitch often more
condusive to seam bowling than the more typical spinners' wickets more
usually found across Pakistan.

  In three Tests played in Rawalpindi since Pakistan were allowed to host
matches again in 2019, 10 years on from the fatal terror attack on the Sri
Lanka team bus in Lahore, fast bowlers have snapped up 52 wickets with
spinners only bagging 21.

  Australia captain Pat Cummins, fresh from leading his side to a 4-0 Ashes
drubbing of England in his first series in charge, admitted it would be all
new to his players.

  "You know most international players -- and conditions -- but this series
comes with a few more unknowns than perhaps normally, so it's going to be
interesting and challenging," said Cummins.

  "I have a big belief in making sure our own game is in order. We must think
that we are in great form since the Ashes and look at that, rather than on
the opposition."

  The Australian will not have encountered some of Pakistan's players before.

  Spinners Nauman Ali and Sajid Khan have come in to replace leg-spinner
Yasir Shah and fast bowler Mohammad Abbas, who both starred in Pakistan's 1-0
win over Australia in the United Arab Emirates in 2018.

  "I think the one thing with the Pakistan team is that they have some young
guys who come and shine straightaway so it's a new challenge," said Cummins.

  - Teen sensation -

   Australia have not won an away Test series since their tour of New Zealand
in 2016, but have an experienced line-up capable of adapting to conditions.

  Opener David Warner and the prolific Steve Smith have scored 15,368 runs
between them in 173 Tests, more than the Pakistan top seven batsmen's
combined 13,120.

  They also have the top-ranked Test batsman Marnus Labuschagne plus the in-
form duo of Pakistan-born Usman Khawaja and Travis Head, who both plundered
two centuries in the Ashes.

  Cummins leads a world-class pace attack alongside left-armer Mitchell Starc
and the fit-again Josh Hazlewood.

  They are complemented by Australia's greatest off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who
passed 400 Test wickets in the Ashes and has taken 95 of those in Asia.

  Pakistan's batting will heavily rely on the talented trio of veteran Azhar
Ali, skipper Babar Azam and in-form Mohammad Rizwan.

  But their opening pair of Abdullah Shafique, who has played two Tests, with
either Shan Masood or Imam-ul-Haq, looks vulnerable.

  Pakistan will miss the injured duo of pace bowler Hasan Ali and fast-
bowling all-rounder Faheem Ashraf, while another quick Haris Rauf has tested
positive for Covid.

  It means teen sensation Naseem Shah -- who became the youngest bowler to
take a hat-trick at 16 years and 359 days at the same venue against
Bangladesh two years ago -- will share new ball duties with Shaheen Shah
Afridi.

  With Covid cases on the wane, the ground will be full to capacity with
fervent home support -- the first three days are sold out.

  "It's the first Test between the two countries in 20-odd years, so its a
special moment and we as players feel privileged to be part and I hope that
fans come and make noise," said Cummins.

  The second Test is in Karachi beginning on March 12 and the and third in
Lahore from March 21.

  Pakistan: (from) Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan, Abdullah Shafique,
Azhar Ali, Fawad Alam, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Wasim Junior,
Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Zahid
Mahmood, Naseem Shah

  Australia (from): Pat Cummins (captain), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex
Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh
Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Mark
Steketee, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner

  Umpires: Aleem Dar (PAK) and Ahsan Raza (PAK)

  TV umpire: Asif Yaqoob (PAK)

  Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)