The Pakistan national cricket team toured Australia in December 2023 and January 2024 to play three Test matches. The teams contested the Benaud–Qadir Trophy and the series was a part of the 2023–2025 ICC World Test Championship.
Controversies In December 2023, Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja apparently attempted to appeal to the international community by including the slogan "All lives are equal" in his pair of shoes during Australia's first test match of the series. He made the decision to showcase the solidarity with the citizens of Palestine who are being killed by Israeli forces although he did not intend any political messages directing towards a particular party. His social messages "All lives are equal" and "Freedom is a human right" were understood by both Cricket Australia (CA) and International Cricket Council (ICC) to be political and both organizations banned Khawaja from using such slogans. Khawaja also wore black armbands during the first test match against Pakistan at Perth which drew sharp criticism from the ICC which eventually reprimanded him for wearing black armbands by ruling out that it breached the clothing and equipment regulations of the body. Khawaja insisted that he wore black armband for his personal bereavement and does not lean with the sentiments towards Gaza. Khawaja also revealed that he would challenge the ICC charges regarding the wearing of black armbands but promised that he would not wear them for the Boxing Day test match at Melbourne against Pakistan.
In December 2023, Pakistani fast bowler Haris Rauf made himself unavailable for this series, due to his partaking in the Big Bash League, which triggered the PCB to hold a hearing. The hearing resulted in the termination of his central contract. PCB also decided for Rauf to not be granted an NOC to play in overseas leagues till June 30, 2024. During this time, the PCB chairman was Zaka Ashraf.
However, it is worth noting that Mohsin Naqvi did reinstate his central contract once according to Naqvi, "wrote to us (the PCB) very nicely."
Squads Pat Cummins (c) Travis Head (vc) Steve Smith (vc) Scott Boland Alex Carey (wk) Cameron Green Josh Hazlewood Usman Khawaja Marnus Labuschagne Nathan Lyon Mitchell Marsh Lance Morris Mitchell Starc David Warner Shan Masood (c) Shaheen Afridi (vc) Salman Ali Agha Abrar Ahmed Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk) Hasan Ali Noman Ali Faheem Ashraf Saim Ayub Babar Azam Mir Hamza Imam-ul-Haq Aamir Jamal Sajid Khan Mohammad Rizwan (wk) Mohammad Nawaz Abdullah Shafique Khurram Shahzad Saud Shakeel Mohammad Wasim Jr.
On 10 December 2023, Sajid Khan was added to Pakistan's squad as cover for unfit Abrar Ahmed.
On 13 December 2023, Travis Head and Steve Smith were named joint-vice-captains of Australia.
On 21 December 2023, Pakistan's Khurram Shahzad was ruled out of the last two tests due to rib stress fracture and abdominal muscle tear suffered during the first Test.
On 23 December 2023, Pakistan's Noman Ali was ruled out of the last two tests due to acute appendicitis, with Mohammad Nawaz named as replacement.
Tour matches Prime Minister's XI vs Pakistan
Victoria XI vs Pakistan This match wasn't part of the original schedule and was added later at Pakistan's request. It was not a first-class match.
Test series
1st Test
2nd Test
3rd Test
References
External links Series home at ESPNcricinfo