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[Saba Sports News] Led by their new captain Shan Masood, Pakistan’s cricket team has begun a challenging tour, facing the World Test Champions Australia in a three-match series. The team arrived in Australia on Friday, December 1, but reportedly, there was no official reception from either the Australian or Pakistani embassies. A widely shared social media video shows the Pakistani players loading their luggage onto a truck themselves, a surprising sight as visiting teams are usually warmly received.
Pakistan’s tour kicks off with a four-day practice match against the Prime Ministers XI in Canberra on December 6, followed by the first Test in Perth starting December 14. The subsequent Tests are scheduled in Melbourne (December 26-30) and Sydney (January 3-7).
After a disappointing performance in the recent ODI World Cup 2023, Pakistan, under Shan Masood’s leadership, aims to rebound. Masood, taking over from Babar Azam, faces a formidable challenge as Pakistan has never won a series in Australia. Despite this, Masood is optimistic about creating history and positively impacting both Pakistan’s standing and their position in the World Test Championship.
“When you have not achieved something in history, then you have an opportunity to change it. So we will make an effort to produce positive results for Pakistan and for the World Test championship,” Masood stated in a recent interview.