Australian men's squad arrives in Pakistan for first tour in 24 years

Australia has arrived in Pakistan for its first tour since 1998, with Test captain Pat Cummins describing the occasion as a «special moment».

The visitors will play three Tests and as many one-day internationals, in addition to a T20 international during the six-week tour.

«Whenever we come over to play in the subcontinent, the fans are just so different to Australia … they're loud, they're really passionate, and I'm sure Pakistan's going to be no different,» Cummins told a virtual media conference.

«It's the first Test matches between the two countries over here in 20-odd years, so it's a special moment. We feel privileged as players.»

Pakistan has struggled to attract visiting sides since a fatal terrorist attack during Sri Lanka's tour in 2009. Australia pulled out of a tour five years earlier after a suicide blast at a Lahore church.

New Zealand and England withdrew from limited-overs tours to Pakistan last year due to security concerns.

The Black Caps abandoned their tour just hours before the toss for the first ODI in Rawalpindi, which is due to host the opening Test against Australia beginning on March 4.

Security teams from Australia visited Pakistan last year to assess the security arrangements before the tour was given Cricket Australia's approval.

Thousands of security personnel are expected to be deployed during the Australians' stay, and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) expects fully vaccinated capacity crowds for the Tests and limited-overs series.

«You are really lucky to be surrounded by so many professionals,» Cummins said.

«That was one of the big factors that we wanted to be really, really thorough on.

»There's lots of things going on around. This (security) might be a little bit different to what we're used to,