Ashton Agar, Usman Khawaja named in Australia's full-strength squad for Pakistan Tests
India Today
Usman Khawaja has been included in an 18-man squad for Australia’s first Test tour to Pakistan since 1998, and it's first in four years without Justin Langer as head coach.
Ashton Agar and Usman Khawaja have been named in Australia's full-strength line-up for the upcoming three-Test tour of Pakistan in their first squad announcement since the resignation of Justin Langer as the coach.
The squad was confirmed three days after Langer announced he’d rejected a six-month contract extension offered by Cricket Australia and quit, a decision that left Andrew McDonald as interim coach. The Australian starting lineup that finished off the 4-0 Ashes series victory over England last month with a win in Hobart has been retained.
Opener Marcus Harris, who made way for Khawaja's return for Australia late in the Ashes series, has been included in the squad. Josh Hazlewood, who missed four of the five Ashes Tests because of injury, has also returned to a pace-bowling group that includes Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Michael Neser and allrounder Cameron Green.
Ashton Agar and Mitchell Swepson have been added as spin options to support Nathan Lyon.
"This squad covers for all scenarios, including the conditions, given it has been such a long time since Australia was last in Pakistan,” selector George Bailey said.
"With several subcontinent tours and a one-day World Cup in India on the near horizon, this is a great first-up challenge for the group after the successful home Ashes Series.
"It’s also a very historic tour given the length of time since an Australian side last toured Pakistan."
