ISLAMABAD
\nAustralia have named an 18-man squad for their upcoming Pakistan tour. Australia will have a full-strength group to choose from in the upcoming Test series against Pakistan after selectors named their 18-player squad for the three-match series.
\nThe series will be the first time in 24 years the two nations have played each other on Pakistan soil, with crucial ICC World Test Championship points up for grabs throughout the three-Test series.
\nVeteran seamer Josh Hazlewood returns to the squad after he missed the majority of the recent Ashes series with a side strain, while left-arm spinner Ashton Agar has been included as an extra slow bowling option to help support experienced off-spinner Nathan Lyon and uncapped leggie Mitchell Swepson.
\nHazlewood\u2019s inclusion adds even further depth to Australia\u2019s already strong fast bowling stocks, with lumbering quick Scott Boland and workhorse Michael Neser impressing alongside left-armer Mitchell Starc and skipper Pat Cummins during the Ashes.
\nAlex Carey and Josh Inglis are the two wicketkeepers chosen in the squad, while left-handers Marcus Harris and Usman Khawaja look set to battle it out to partner David Warner at the top of the batting order.
\nThe only player to feature during the Ashes that won\u2019t make the trip to the subcontinent is Jhye Richardson, with the paceman instead opting to stay in Australia.
\nGeorge Bailey, former Australia batter and chair of the National Selection Panel (NSP) was ecstatic to be able to choose such a strong squad for the historic tour.
\n\u201cThis squad covers for all scenarios including the conditions given it has been such a long time since Australia was last in Pakistan,\u201d Bailey said.
\n\u201cWith 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.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s also a very historic tour given the length of time since an Australian side last toured Pakistan.\u201d
\nAustralia currently sits in second place on the ICC World Test Championship table with 52 points, while Pakistan are just one place behind them in third with 36 points.
\nAustralia Test squad
\nPat 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 (vc), Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD Australia have named an 18-man squad for their upcoming Pakistan tour. Australia will have a full-strength group to choose from in the upcoming Test series against Pakistan after selectors named their 18-player squad for the three-match series. The series will be the first time in 24 years the two nations have played each other […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-243476","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-business"},"yoast_head":"\n