'Pacers equally dangerous as spinners in Pakistan conditions' Mark Waugh

Former Australian batter Mark Waugh has cautioned the Aussies to expect mixed conditions in Pakistan.

Australia are in line to tour Pakistan after 24 years for three Tests, three ODIs and a T20I. The first Test of the tour will start from March 4 in Rawalpindi.

The 56-year-old Waugh has scored three figures in Test cricket in Pakistan, his third-innings 117 having helped Mark Taylor's side to a draw in the third Test in Karachi on that 1998 tour.

Waugh, in an interview with cricket.com.au, remained well placed to assess the types of pitches a Test tour of Pakistan has traditionally thrown up.

"I always thought the wickets in Pakistan, they're not like Indian wickets – they don't break up, and they're not as dusty. They don't have a lot of grass on them but they're quite hard, and reverse swing is as much, if not more of a danger than spin," Waugh said.

"In my era, they had Mushtaq (Ahmed) and Saqlain (Mushtaq), and a few other bits-and-pieces spinners, but I always thought the quick bowlers were equally as dangerous, if not more so, in Pakistan, with reverse swing and pace through the air."

"So it's certainly different to India – it's not as spin-oriented."

Meanwhile, Waugh believes that Pakistan's left-arm paceman Shaheen Shah Afridi will cause Australia's left-handers – in particular David Warner – problems with his angle of delivery, pace and ability to move the ball away.

"I don't think Warner's looked quite as comfortable against quick bowling in recent times – Mark Wood definitely unsettled him, and Shaheen Afridi will be a big test for him," he said.

"It's a different angle and for him it's a little bit like a right-arm quick coming round the wicket – do you play the ball, or do you leave the ball?

"Generally a right-arm seamer over the wicket is going to angle across the wicket so he's probably more confident whether to leave or play the ball, but when you've got the left-armer from that different angle, he's probably not as comfortable. Shaheen Afridi's got the ability to angle in and take the ball away from David Warner, so he does pose that question.

"Then if one goes straight on, he's bringing bowleds and lbws into play. So it's a different challenge, definitely."