Steve Smith and Australian squad boards flight for Pakistan; shares pics

Star Australian batter and Test vice-captain, Steve Smith and his teammates boarded the flight for the landmark tour of Pakistan on Saturday (February 26).

The Australian team embarked on the historic tour for the first time in over two decades. The last time Australia travelled to the Asian country, Adam Gilchrist was yet to make his debut.

It was in the year 1998 that the Mark Taylor led-Australian team played in Pakistan. Over the next few weeks, Pat Cummins and his men will look to do an encore of 1998, where the Aussies won 1-0.

For that to materialize, Steve Smith will have to play a defining role with the bat. 

Smith, on Saturday, took to his Twitter account to post a selfie after boarding the flight for Pakistan.

Last time Smith played a Test series in the subcontinent- vs India in 2017- he played one of the greatest innings ever played on a turning track. That knock in Pune, along with Steven O' Keefe's 12-wicket-haul, propelled Australia to their first win in India since 2004.

Smith was at the peak of his powers back then, but over the course of the last 18 months, the right-hander hasn't looked in his elements. He is averaging less than 40 ever since the Ashes 2019, and Australia will be hoping that the champion batsman's barren run ends in Pakistan.

This will be Australia's first Test assignment away from home since the 2019 Ashes. Post the Ashes, Australia have gone on to play 14 home Tests in a row and while they swept aside Pakistan (2-0), New Zealand (3-0) and England (4-0), they were beaten by India for the second time in three years, last summer.

Australia haven't won a Test series in Asia since their 1-0 win over Sri Lanka way back in 2011. They have recently undergone a change in leadership, with Tim Paine and Justin Langer stepping down from their positions of captain and head coach respectively.

Newly appointed captain Cummins had a dream start to his leadership career during the home summer but his real test will come in the upcoming 12 months.

The first Test of the three-match series will take place in Rawalpindi between March 04-08.

Australia's Test squad: 

Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith (VC), 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, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner