The last time Pakistan and Australia faced each other in the United Arab Emirates in 2014, Pakistan had whitewashed Australia in the two-match Test series.
The spinners had played a key role as they picked up 30 out of the 40 Australian wickets.
However, during Pakistan’s tour of Australia in 2016-2017, it was Australia that dominated with a 3-0 series sweep.
Batsman Azhar Ali's 205 not out in Melbourne was arguably the highlight for Pakistan during that series, while Wahab Riaz took 11 wickets.
For Australia Steve Smith and David Warner were the stand out men, scoring 441 and 356 runs respectively, while Josh Hazlewood took 15 wickets. All three of these players will miss the series this time around.
The Kangaroos will be will be donning the whites for the first time since the ill-fated tour of South Africa in March earlier this year, which led to Smith, Warner and Cameron Bancroft being banned from playing cricket for 12 months and nine months.
On the other hand, Pakistan are looking to move forward from their disastrous Asia Cup campaign where they were knocked out by Bangladesh in the last Super Four stage match.
The squads
Mohammad Hafeez makes a comeback to the Test team after a two-year absence while pacer Mohammad Amir was dropped from the squad. Wahab Riaz earned a recall for the two-match Test series while Shadab Khan's groin injury, that he picked up during the Asia Cup, ruled him out of the first Test.
Skipper Sarfraz Ahmed will be backed up as wicketkeeper by Mohammad Rizwan, who played his sole test against New Zealand in Hamilton almost two years ago.
On the other hand, Australia have included five uncapped players for the Test series against Pakistan.
Among the five debutants are Queensland trio Michael Neser, Brendan Doggett and Marnus Labuschagne, South Australia's Travis Head and Victoria's Aaron Finch.
On Saturday, captain Tim Paine confirmed Finch, Head and Labuschagne will be part of the playing XI for the first Test. Australia have also recalled Peter Siddle.
They will be without, Smith, Warner and Bancroft all suspended for their role in the ball-tampering row. Also missing from the squad are injured fast bowlers Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, leaving Australia with one of its weakest Test squads in years.
Match will begin at 11am Pakistan Standard Time.
Pakistan squad for Test series
Sarfraz Ahmed(c), Azhar Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Usman Salahuddin, Yasir Shah, Shadab Khan, Bilal Asif, Mohammad Abbas, Hasan Ali, Wahab Riaz, Faheem Ashraf, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Hafeez
Australia squad for Test series
Tim Paine(c), Ashton Agar, Brendan Doggett, Aaron Finch, Travis Head, Jon Holland, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Michael Neser, Matt Renshaw, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc
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