• Cricket Australia says players ready to tour Pakistan after a gap of 24 years

Australia named a full-strength squad yesterday for its first Pakistan tour in 24 years, with spinners Mitchell Swepson and Ashton Agar drafted to back up their formidable pace attack.
Pat Cummins’ side - which recently lost coach Justin Langer in acrimonious circumstances - are slated to play a three-Test series in Rawalpindi, Karachi and Lahore from March 4.
Bowler Josh Hazelwood will be back in action after missing most of Australia’s recent 4-0 demolition of England in the Ashes.
Scott Boland who thrilled fans with a stunning debut at the Melbourne Cricket Ground during that series - including a spell that saw him take six wickets for seven runs - has been retained.
But there will be more backup in the spin department for stalwart Nathan Lyon, who is joined by leg-spinner Swepson and left-hander Agar.
Batters Marnus Labuschagne and
Steve Smith are also able to bowl spin, leaving the tourists with plenty of options if the subcontinental wickets start to turn.
“This squad covers for all scenarios including the conditions given it has been such a long time since Australia was last in Pakistan,” selection chief George Bailey said in a statement.
“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.” It is Australia’s first tour of Pakistan in almost a quarter-century. Cricket-mad Pakistan has struggled to entice foreign sides back after home internationals were suspended following a deadly terror attack on the Sri Lanka Test side in 2009. Pakistan was forced to play their home international matches abroad - mostly in the United Arab Emirates - until 2015, when normal service tentatively resumed.
The selection of Usman Khawaja is a significant personal milestone for the left-handed batsman.
He was born in Pakistan, moving to Australia as a five-year-old but has never played there, with Australia’s most recent matches against them having taken place on neutral ground in the UAE.
Late last year the Queensland batsman said it was time for Australia to embrace a return to the country.
“There’s a lot of security. Heavy, heavy security. I’ve heard nothing but reports about people feeling safe,” Khawaja, who has played Pakistan Super League (PSL) lasy year, said.
“Even talking to the guys during the PSL about what it’s like…they would say the same thing to me ‘like 10 years ago, maybe not, but now 100 percent’.”
For Australia, the tour will be a major test of Cricket Australia’s decision to push Langer out of the coaching role.
Andrew McDonald has been appointed interim coach.

Australia squad
Pat Cummins (c), 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

Revised schedule
27 February–Arrival in Islamabad
4-8 March–1st Test, Rawalpindi
12-16 March–2nd Test, Karachi
21-25 March–3rd Test, Lahore
29 March–1st ODI, Rawalpindi
31 March–2nd ODI, Rawalpindi
2 April–3rd ODI, Rawalpindi
5 April–One-off T20I, Rawalpindi