ISLAMABAD: On the eve of their first Test in Pakistan in nearly a quarter of a century, Australian players were forced to stay back in their hotel. Their hosts too were confined to their rooms.

After security issues had kept Australia away for 24 years, it was the rain which kept their players from getting into the Pindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday as both teams were forced to cancel their training sessions.

The forecast, though, is clear for Friday — the opening day of the first Test in the three-match series — and Saturday although showers are predicted on the last two days of the game.

Regardless of what the outcome of the match is on Tuesday, it will be a momentous occasion when the first ball is bowled on Friday as it will signal the end of a long, anxious and, at times, agonising wait for Pakistan’s cricket fans to see top teams playing in their own backyard.

A full house is expected at the Pindi Stadium and Pakistan captain Babar Azam said that his players were keen on putting on a show by giving a “tough time” to the Aussies, who are buoyed by their 4-0 Ashes triumph over England earlier this year.

Pakistan have been hit by injuries and ailment in the lead up to the series, losing pacer Hasan Ali and all-rounder Faheem Ashraf to knocks sustained in the recently-concluded Pakistan Super League, and fast bowler Haris Rauf to Covid-19.

But Babar believes Pakistan will carry the momentum of their 2-0 Test series win in Bangladesh last year.

“It did disturb our combination, especially injuries to Faheem and Hasan,” Babar told a virtual news conference on Thursday. “Faheem contributes both with ball and bat and Hasan is one of the top bowlers, a proven match-winner.

“We did well against Bangladesh. In this series too, we will do well and give Australia a tough time. Fans can expect quality cricket from us.

“Australia are here after 24 years, we’re very excited. They are one of the best sides, we can’t take it easy against them. We prepared well and we are in good shape. We will try to make the most of our home conditions and get the best of our available players.”

Although Babar did not reveal his playing XI for the match, Pakistan are likely to include teenaged Naseem Shah, who took a hat-trick against Bangladesh at the Pindi Stadium two years ago, into their pace attack led by Shaheen Shah Afridi.

He also believes that Test specialists Fawad Alam and Azhar Ali, along with spinners Nauman Ali and Sajid Khan will lift the team after they had good preparations during a training camp in Karachi.

“We have Shaheen and Naseem who both are bowling well and batters like Azhar, Fawad and Rizwan in good form, and I am quite confident that against the best side in the world we will do well,” he said. “As a captain, I am confident that I will have a best playing XI to give a tough fight to Australia in this historic home series. Unfortunately, it rained today, but we will see the wicket before finalising the final squad.”

The Australia series has come fast on the heels of the PSL but Babar insisted shifting from Twenty20 to Test mode would not be a problem for his players.

“As professionals, it should not be difficult for a player,” said Babar, who failed to inspire his Karachi Kings team as captain during the PSL. “It’s all about mindset. Even when playing in the PSL, the players trained extra for the Test series.”

Babar’s counterpart Pat Cummins also didn’t name his starting line-up as the Australians return to venue where they won their last Test on Pakistan soil in October 1998 which gave them a 1-0 series win.

But Cummins said he knows the makeup of his playing XI while adding that playing two spinners remained an option.

“We’ve got a fair idea what we want to do, but just don’t want to make the call too early without fully knowing what the wicket is,” Cummins said during a virtual media conference on Thursday. “I don’t think it’ll be a super quick wicket, probably [we’ll play] two spinners or three quicks.”

Veteran spinner Nathan Lyon remains a certainty but Cummins didn’t reveal whether uncapped leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson or left-arm spinner Ashton Agar will be included if Australia opt to go with two spinners.

“I think that they’re both great options,” Cummins said. “Swepson is a leg-spinner, it’s a real luxury to have. He’s been bowling fantastically [in domestic cricket], he’s ready to go. Agar has been fantastic whenever he’s played for Australia. I think he’s really grown as a bowler in the last couple years as well. So either of those two are absolutely ready for Test cricket if they get a chance.”

Having arrived in Pakistan on Sunday, Australia have had just two training sessions at the Pindi Cricket Stadium but Cummins wasn’t too concerned.

“We had a good look at the wicket the last few days,” the 28-year-old, looking to lead Australia to a first away Test series win in six years, said. “It looks like a good wicket. Probably, as expected, not a heap of grass on it but enough to probably keep it together a little bit.”

Cummins also said he felt that the enforced absences wouldn’t weaken Pakistan.

“In international cricket, you’ve got to have squad players. I’m sure that will be a big loss but there’s always another guy that can step up,” he said, downplaying Australia’s tag as “favourites” following their Ashes dominance over England.

“To be honest it doesn’t really mean much,” he said. “We feel lucky that we’ve got a strong squad coming off some really good performances, but... it’s unfamiliar conditions, so we’ll see.”

Teams:

PAKISTAN: (from) Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan, Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Fawad Alam, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Wasim Junior, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Zahid Mahmood, Naseem Shah AUSTRALIA (from): Pat Cummins (captain), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Mark Steketee, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner

UMPIRES: Aleem Dar and Ahsan Raza (both Pakistan).

TV UMPIRE: Asif Yaqoob (Pakistan).

MATCH REFEREE: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka).

Published in Dawn, March 4th, 2022