NEWS
Follow UsAshton Agar has been named as the third spinner for Australia's Test series against Pakistan, behind Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Swepson. Agar played his fourth and final Test against Bangladesh in Chattogram in 2017.
The Pat Cummins-led side will be the first Australian side to tour Pakistan in 24 years. As of now, no player has pulled out of the tour, despite Australia Players' Association (ACA) stating that they do expect a few players to miss the tour due to security concerns.
Australia have gone in with pretty much a similar side that thrashed England 4-0 at home. Marcus Harris hangs on to his place in the side, despite an underwhelming Ashes at home. Mitchell Marsh finds himself included which further adds firepower to Australia's five-man pace attack.
Josh Hazlewood too returns to the 18-member squad after missing the last four Ashes Tests due to a side strain injury. Also, Andrew McDonald will take charge of the team during the tour following the resignation of Justin Langer.
"This squad covers for all scenarios including the conditions given it has been such a long time since Australia was last in Pakistan," national selector George Bailey said.
"With several subcontinent tours and a one-day World Cup in India on the near horizon this is a great first-up challenge for the group after the successful home Ashes Series. It's also a very historic tour given the length of time since an Australian side last toured Pakistan."
The Australian Test side will complete their isolation in their country before heading to Islamabad on in a chartered flight on February 27. They will then isolate in their rooms for one day after which they are free to hold training sessions at the Pindi Cricket Stadium.
The first of the three-Test series is scheduled to kick-start from March 4 in Rawalpindi.
Australia Test squad vs Pakistan: Pat Cummins (c), David Warner, Marcus Harris, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith (vc), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Josh Inglis (wk), Usman Khawaja, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, Mitchell Swepson