George Bailey stated that the Pakistan Cricket Board and Cricket Australia are working through details for the tour, and the squad will be announced once formal approval comes.
Australia have not toured away from home since the Ashes 2019, cancelling several assignments during this time due to various reasons. But their tour of Pakistan looks on track as the boards work towards final approval, and no player has yet expressed their unwillingness to travel.
Australia are scheduled to play three ODIs, one T20I and a three-match Test series in Pakistan starting from early March. This will also be their first tour to Pakistan since 1998.
Bailey assured that the tour is right on track and the squad will be announced once the final sign-off is done. As things stand, Bailey is expecting to pick a full-strength squad for the tour.
“I believe the boards are still working through some of the minor details around that tour. Once that gets the formal tick of approval, we’ll announce the squad but we’re reasonably well down the track.
The two [security] briefings that I’ve sat in on, the security sounds very, very robust,”
he said.
There are expected to be minor changes to the tour starting from March 3, but as things stand, the three Tests are to take place in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi, while the decision on live spectators will be taken closer to the series.
Todd Greenberg, the chief executive of the Australian Cricketers’ Association, said last week that he is not expecting any withdrawals from the tour.
“I think everyone will go. It’s a very significant tour with three Test matches. Talking to players, they want to test themselves against the very best in the world and they want to play in different conditions,”
Greenberg said.
A glimpse into Australia’s planning for the tour came with David Warner and Mitchell Marsh being rested from the T20 series against Sri Lanka, taking place from February 11-20. Marsh was with the Ashes squad as cover after Travis Head was tested Covid-19 positive. Marsh is set to be in the mix for the Pakistan series as a batting all-rounder option alongside Cameron Green.
Despite the postponement of New Zealand’s limited overs tour down under, Australia’s schedule looks packed for the next few months. Bailey assured that there was no issue with the players who have registered their names for the IPL auction.
