Newly appointed skipper Shan Masood set Pakistan a tough target on Wednesday for their forthcoming tour of Australia -- make history.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pakistan have never won a Test series in the 12 times they have toured down under, with the south Asian side losing the last 14 five-dayers in a row there.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But Masood, 34, who took over the Test side after Babar Azam relinquished the captaincy in all formats of cricket following Pakistan's disastrous World Cup campaign, sees an opportunity.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"When you have not achieved something in history, then you have an opportunity to change it," he told a news conference in Lahore ahead of the team's departure.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"So we will make an effort to produce positive results for Pakistan and for the World Test championship."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pakistan are on the top of World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle with wins in both Tests against Sri Lanka, while India are second and Australia third on the nine-team table.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But Australia are flying high after winning the last cycle of the championship and lifting the 50-over World Cup earlier this month.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Test series starts with the first match in Perth from December 14, followed by Melbourne (December 26-30), and Sydney (January 3-7).<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pakistan lost both Tests by an innings margin during their last tour -- a series Masood was part of.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"We need to score 400 and then take 20 wickets," said Masood of what was required.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"We did not do that on our last tour in 2019, so that is the goal."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Masood admitted Australia would be high on confidence.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"The positive thing will be to have the belief to play well, and all those playing contribute to give Australia some tough times."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Masood insisted the tourists had prepared well for this series.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"We tried to replicate the Australian conditions in our training camp in Rawalpindi, which has a bouncy pitch," he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He also hailed the appointment of former England skipper Adam Hollioake, who coaches in Australia, as the team's new batting coach.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Teams hire people who have local knowledge, and he is an expert of Australian conditions so his appointment will help us to apply ourselves in those conditions."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He also backed his predecessor Azam to have a big tour, saying the team's batting "will go around him".<\/p>\r\n\r\n