AFP, BRISBANE: The Pakistan team, six years in the making and armed with insider knowledge from coach Mickey Arthur, are poised to make history in Australia, veteran skipper Misbah-ul-Haq said Wednesday.
Misbah, who exerts a calming influence on the mercurial Pakistanis, believes the side has developed into one that can finally deliver a series win after 11 fruitless tours to Australia.
Pakistan have won only four of their 32 Tests Down Under and have lost their last nine Tests since their last victory in Sydney in 1995.
No team from the sub-continent has won a Test series in Australia, further underlining the massive undertaking.
But Misbah, who scored just 76 runs in four innings in his only tour to Australia in 2009-10, is confident the tourists can turn things around against Steve Smith's men, who are themselves emerging from a recent losing five-Test run.
Much of Pakistan's confidence flows from the insights coach Arthur has on the Australians after his time as their national coach up to his sacking ahead of the 2013 Ashes series in England.
No one has beaten Australia at their Gabba fortress since the West Indies in 1988, but the unique challenge of the first pink-ball Test under lights at the ground makes Pakistan's chances difficult to assess.
“It is not only the Gabba conditions but also the pink ball, day-night Test match,” said Misbah, who at 42 is the oldest current Test player.
“The players are not that much familiar with the pink ball and these conditions. That could be a challenge, especially under lights.
“It's always a challenge when you come to play in Australia because these conditions are totally different from the rest of the world, a bit more bounce and pace here.