Pakistan-Australia series confirmed, with Rawalpindi to host opening Test

Australia's men haven't toured the country for 24 years, since the 1998 tour during which Mark Taylor made an unbeaten 334 at Lahore

Australia have confirmed their upcoming tour of Pakistan, with a revised itinerary that will see Rawalpindi host the first Test.

Initially, Karachi had been due to open the series with Rawalpindi staging the second Test, but the two venues have been swapped.

The Test finale will take place in Lahore, which had also been slated to host the subsequent white-ball matches, but those will now be played in Rawalpindi.

Those alterations follow security assessments completed by Australian officials, which included a trip to Pakistan. The schedule's revision will also help to ease logistical issues, including avoiding rehearsals for Pakistan Day, which tend to begin in Islamabad around the time of the second Test, which begins on March 12.

Australia's men haven't toured the country for 24 years, since the 1998 tour during which Mark Taylor made an unbeaten 334 at Lahore.

It has also been agreed that the tourists' Test side will complete their isolation in Australia, before arriving into Islamabad on February 27 on a chartered flight. They will then serve a further single-day isolation.

Australia are expected to name a strong squad for the trip, though Josh Hazlewood admitted earlier this week that he "wouldn't be surprised if some [players] don't make the tour".

^{Pat Cummins will lead Australia in Pakistan for the first time since 1998 (Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)}

New Zealand abandoned a tour of the country last September shortly before the start of a T20I in Rawalpindi due to a warning from their government of an apparent escalating security threat.

England then cancelled a short white-ball tour scheduled for not long after, a decision that was widely criticised and effectively led to the resignation of ECB chairman Ian Watmore.

"I would like to thank the PCB and both the Pakistan and Australian governments for ensuring the tour will proceed for the first time in 24 years," said Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley.

"This is a historic occasion and important for the global growth and health of the game."

"We are pleased that the Cricket Australia Board has formally approved their side's five-week tour itinerary and confirmed that their best available players will visit Pakistan for the first time in 24 years," added PCB chief executive Faisal Hasnain.

"We are really excited to host Pat Cummins and his players, and look forward to a competitive series that will comprise three Tests, three ODIs and a T20I."

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