Cricket Australia in negotiations with PCB to play Test series at single venue

Cricket Australia (CA) are in negotiations with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) about the possibility of playing all three Tests in one venue.

Australia are scheduled to tour Pakistan for the first time in 24 years. The tour includes three Tests, three ODIs and a T20I.

Sydney Morning Herald reported that CA wants all Tests at a single venue, viewing players' health and security reasons.

The Tests have been scheduled for Karachi, Rawalpindi and Lahore from March 3 to 25 while three ODIs and a T20I have all been scheduled for Lahore.

The publication also reported that Australia look set to send a full squad to Pakistan for the Test series. While some players remain uneasy about touring Pakistan, they have been encouraged by the recent reports they received of the West Indies tour to Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Mitchell Starc has signalled his intention to tour by withdrawing from the IPL.

Australia confirms squad for Sri Lanka T20Is

Australia has named its T20 squad to face Sri Lanka next month with both MitchELL Marsh and David Warner missing, while coach Justin Langer will also take a break.

Selectors unveiled the 16-man squad on Tuesday without the two Australian World Cup heroes, while Josh Hazlewood has been picked for his return from injury, and Ben McDermott has been rewarded for his stellar BBL campaign.

Travis Head has been picked in the squad, looking to play his first white ball game for Australia since November 2018.

Langer will take a break ahead of the Pakistan tour along with other “core support staff".His assistant Andrew McDonald will act as head coach for series, which runs from February 11 to 20, Cricket Australia said in a statement.

Australia T20 squad: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Josh Inglis, Ben McDermott, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa