SYDNEY: Australia on Tuesday announced the white-collar team against Pakistan, excluding David Warner and Test captain Pat Cummins from the 16-man squad for the long-awaited trip.
Australia takes a strong Test team on their first trip to Pakistan in 24 years, but the next three games of one day and one Twenty20 game will put many top players at rest. Mitchel Starc.
In the list of strikers, Glenn Maxwell, who will be getting married in the coming weeks, is missing along with Warner who detonated an explosive device.
The Test team is expected to head to Pakistan over the weekend with the first of three Test matches starting on March 4 in Rawalpindi.
Cricket Australia said the full schedule means the burden of other players playing all kinds – Tests, Twenty20s, and ODIs – should be regulated.
“We have selected a talented and flexible team that has a lot of challenges to overcome,” said electoral chairman George Bailey.
He also highlighted the need to “build experience and depth in preparing for the two short World Cups over the next 18 months.”
Younger players who do not participate in the Tests will meet on a mid-day tour, starting one day on March 29, and at Rawalpindi.
“We hope the team can compete successfully on this trip and continue to advance to those important tournaments.”
This is the first visit to Australia in Pakistan since 1998.
The cricketing Pakistani has struggled to attract foreign teams following the 2009 Sri Lankan terrorist attack.
Australian ODI and T20 team: Aaron Finch (captain), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Ben McDermott, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.