Babar up for Australia challenge

Newly-installed Pakistan captain Babar Azam admitted his team will face a stern test during next month’s tour of Australia, but vowed his players will go for victory.

Azam last week replaced Sarfaraz Ahmed, who was dumped as skipper and left out of the squad following the shocking 3-0 rout of the Twenty20 side -- ranked number one in the world -- at the hands of an inexperienced Sri Lanka earlier this month.

Sarfaraz was also removed as Test skipper and was replaced by Azhar Ali.

Pakistan will play three Twenty20 internationals and two Tests during the tour.

Azam, who will be country’s youngest skipper in Twenty20 cricket at 25, said Australia will pose a huge challenge.

“Every tour is tough and Australia is always a challenging place because of the extra bounce, but we will go for wins as always,” he said a day before their departure.

The Sri Lanka debacle, in which he managed scores of 13, three and 27, did not appear to have dented his confidence.

“Don’t judge me on just three matches,” he concluded.