Pakistan pull surprise for tour clash

AUSTRALIA’S hopes of pulling off a morale-boosting win in their first Test series under Justin Langer have been sabotaged by Pakistan’s decision to roll out a questionable side for their only warm-up match.

No frontline spinners have been selected in the Pakistan A side that Australia will use as their only practice for the twoTest series, in a pointed decision designed to destroy Australia’s preparation.

Australia were routed by Pakistan 2-0 in their last tour in the UAE, with spin proving their undoing as Zulfiqar Babar and Yasir Shah combined to take 26 wickets in the Test demolition.

Shah, and Brisbane Heat’s teenage leg-spin sensation Shadab Khan, are the dangermen this time around with spin again expected to play an enormous part in the two-Test series in the UAE, which begins on October 7.

Australia selected three specialist spinners in their 15man squad and Langer is likely to deploy the spin duo of Nathan Lyon and Jon Holland in the opening Test, with leftarmer Ashton Agar in the mix to add a third frontline spin option in an all-rounder role.