Khawaja relaxed about Pakistan homecoming

Usman Khawaja is taking the Pakistani homecoming in his stride but admits the hype around Australia's first Test tour of the country since 1998 is real.

Born in Islamabad, Khawaja will open the batting in Pakistan, 24 years after Mark Taylor and Michael Slater were the last Australians to do so.

Even a few months ago, the chances of Khawaja ever playing an international match in the country he lived in as a young boy seemed remote.

The 35-year-old had not played for Australia since 2019, and the long-awaited tour of Pakistan was yet to receive the all-clear.

But once Khawaja struck dual centuries at the SCG on his return to the Test side, when he was recalled for an injured Travis Head, his spot on the plane was secure.

"Every game for Australia now is just a bonus," Khawaja said.

"The fact I'm playing in Pakistan is special, don't get me wrong, it's very special, and something I've always wanted to do.

"There's a bit of sentiment there but once the game starts you don't really think about that stuff, you're more worried about the ball coming down."

Pakistani crowds will be in the difficult position of cheering hard for their team but hoping Khawaja stars.

In Khawaja's press conference on Monday, the classy left-hander answered a couple of questions in the Urdu language, exemplifying the deep connection he still has to his birth country.

"They'll hope I get runs, but they'll be hoping Australia get smashed at the same time," Khawaja said.

"I know where the Rawalpindi ground is, I've got a couple of photos from when I was younger at the old Rawalpindi ground.

"Pakistanis love their cricket, and they appreciate good cricket, and I think that's what they'd be hoping for.

"There'd be some very lonely, pretty boring summers