Australia have named a full-strength line-up for next month’s three-Test tour of Pakistan in their first squad announcement since the resignation of Justin Langer as coach.
The Australians will play in Pakistan for the first time in almost 25 years and the series will be the Test side’s first overseas tour since facing England in the 2019 Ashes series.
Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood returns from injury while Scott Boland, one of the stand-out performers during Australia’s 4-0 Ashes series win over England earlier in the season, retains his place in the Pat Cummins-captained squad.
Concerns that senior players would pull out of the tour due to security issues after both England and New Zealand withdrew from tours of Pakistan late last year have proven unfounded.
No Australian team has travelled to Pakistan since 1998.
The first Test will start in Rawalpindi on March 4, with the second meeting slated for Karachi on March 12. Lahore will host the final Test from March 21. The Australians will be led during the tour by interim coach Andrew McDonald.
The squad:
Pat Cummins, 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, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner.
