Aussies keeping an eye on PSL ahead of Pakistan tour

Australia's interim men's team coach Andrew McDonald concedes planning for the first tour to Pakistan in 24 years requires "educated guesses" but is confident his 18-man squad provides sufficient flexibility to cover all contingencies.

Addressing a press conference, the Australian cricket team is watching matches of the seventh edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) ahead of their tour to Pakistan next month in order to understand the game of the Men in Green.

However, McDonald admits the usually detailed planning that takes place prior to such a significant overseas campaign has taken on a broader focus in recent days to ensure the visitors are as prepared as possible for the month-long tour.

"We're taking some educated guesses based on what we're seeing in recent times there," McDonald told reporters today. We're looking at the PSL (ongoing Pakistan Super League tournament), looking at the (centre wicket) squares, and it's obviously at the back end of their season as well. So we're covering all bases there, from turning wickets to potentially wickets with grass on (them).

The group McDonald will lead in concert with Test captain Pat Cummins is currently undertaking pre-series training in Melbourne with players observing isolation protocols before boarding a plane for Islamabad, where the tour begins in nearby Rawalpindi on March 4.

That will mean Australia's first Test touring party to the Islamic republic since 1998 will have less than a week to sum up conditions for the first of three Tests, with early intelligence indicating Rawalpindi will offer encouragement to fast bowlers.

"Our preparation probably takes on a greater range and is less specific than what we would do if we knew exactly what we were getting ... and is a lot wider in terms of the conversations that we're having. But we feel the squad's balanced and there's enough options for whatever the case may be when we land on the ground."

The interim coach reiterated that it is a well-known fact the Australian team faces difficulties while playing in the sub-continent. “We have worked on foundational strategy, keeping Pakistan's training pitches and grass pitches in mind,” he said.

Shedding light on the performance of the players, he told the media that bowling pressure on all-rounder Cameron Green would increase in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, batters Usman Khawaja and David Warner will be among the top-order during the series.

Replying to questions regarding Pakistan team, the interim coach said one cannot predict about Pakistan team.

“It is difficult to say whether Pakistan's team playing on the home ground is different or the team playing in the UAE,” he said.

McDonalds was of the view that Pakistan has some very good fast bowlers and especially mentioned Shaheen Shah Afridi, stating that his performance is constantly improving.

The Aussies' coach said that the spectators will see a good competition because they also have some good bowlers.

He also downplayed the relevance of experience incumbent quicks Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood might have gleaned from their 2007 tour to Pakistan with Australia's under-19 team, when they played in Lahore against a team that included Test-capped opener Shan Masood.

McDonald said despite Pakistan teams having a reputation for being 'mercurial' with performances that oscillate wildly between remarkable and lamentable, the Australians had an idea of what to expect even though their previous four 'away' series against Pakistan had been variously played in Sri Lanka, the UK and United Arab Emirates.

"It's difficult to tell (whether) Pakistan in Pakistan is different to Pakistan in the UAE," McDonald said.

"It's said that Pakistan are unpredictable but I think that in their own conditions, there's an element of predictability in that they like to draw games out, they play the long game, they're patient and they play their conditions well. It's been well documented that Australian teams struggle in the subcontinent and have had difficulty. They've got some great spin bowling options, and their fast bowlers – Shaheen Shah Afridi keeps getting better every year with his left-arm pace. He swings the ball, and can reverse swing the ball as well.

"They've got a sensational pace attack and we're going to be tested with that ... but we've got some exciting players as well with Mitchell Starc, and Cummins and Hazlewood and Green. I think it's going to be a really good contest."