Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi & Shan Masood Look Dapper As Pakistan Depart For Australia

Pakistan travelled for 3 Tests in Australia (Twitter)

After undergoing a timely preparation camp in Rawalpindi, the Pakistan Test squad departed for Australia on Thursday (November 30) ahead of the much-anticipated three-match Test series Down Under. 

Opener Shan Masood-led touring contingent took the flight from Karachi for Canberra where they play a four-day first-class match against a Prime Minister's XI from December 6 ahead of the Test series opener in Perth starting December 14.

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The following two Tests of the marquee series will be played in the traditional Boxing Day and New Year's Tests windows between December 26-30 and January 3-7, respectively. It will be Pakistan's second assignment in the ongoing cycle of the World Test Championship (WTC) since defeating Sri Lanka 2-0 in July and the first under Masood's captaincy after the recent captaincy shuffle. 

Babar Azam resigned from all-format leadership for the Asian giants following a disastrous pre-semifinal exit from the ICC World Cup 2023 and returns to the Aussie shores in Tests with a refreshed mind after facing sustained flak and scrutiny over his decision-making and results on Indian shores.

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Pakistan travel to Australia for a tough Test tour

In his very first media interaction after taking over the leadership mantle, Masood had highlighted Babar's importance and value to his set-up by insisting the modern-day stalwart's batting will be critical in Pakistan's fortunes Down Under. 

Notably, Babar is returning to Australia for Test format after a pathbreaking 2019 trip where his century in Brisbane and a majestic 97 in Adelaide truly spurred the cricketer on to the heights he has reached since. After stuttering along in the first half of his career, the elegant right-hander has averaged above 55 and made eight centuries alongside 15 half-centuries in previous 28 Tests. 

Pakistan have retained most of the Test squad that succeeded with a whitewash in Sri Lanka while adjusting to the injury-forced absence of key pacer Naseem Shah. 

The Asian rivals have the weight of history staked against them after losing their previous 14 Tests on the bounce in Australia. Since the 1999-2000 trip, Pakistan have suffered four different Test series whitewashes on Aussie shores and will have to play out of their skins to rewrite the history books.