Australia on Sunday unveiled its formidable 14-man squad for the upcoming first Test against Pakistan in the three-match home series. Leading the team is the World Cup-winning captain, Pat Cummins, who will guide the squad in the inaugural Test scheduled to take place from December 14 to 18 at the Perth Stadium.
Despite earlier announcements of his retirement from the longest format, Australian opener David Warner has been named in the squad for the first Test, alongside the seasoned Usman Khawaja. The team also features key players such as Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Greene, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Lance Morris, Steve Smith, and Mitchell Starc.
Chief selector George Bailey highlighted the ongoing opportunities for players to prove themselves for the Tests against Pakistan in Melbourne and Sydney, as well as the subsequent two-match series against the West Indies. Bailey expressed anticipation for strong performances from those who have excelled domestically, emphasizing the upcoming Prime Minister’s XI fixture against Pakistan as a crucial platform for showcasing talent.
Meanwhile, Pakistan, eager to break a three-decade-long drought without a win in Australia, is diligently preparing for the upcoming series.
Australia squad: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (captain), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Scott Boland, Cameron Green, Lance Morris
Pakistan squad: Shan Masood (captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah Afridi
Four-day match: PM’s XI vs Pakistan – December 6-9: Manuka Oval, Canberra
1st Test – Australia vs Pakistan – December 14-18: Perth Stadium
2nd Test – Australia vs Pakistan – December 26-30: Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)
3rd Test – Australia vs Pakistan – January 3-7: Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG)
