Newly-appointed Test captain Shan Masood said that the upcoming tour to Australia is a challenge as well as an opportunity and the team will try its best to bring positive results for Pakistan.

Talking to the media on Wednesday, he said that the team will continue with the opening pair.

He said, “ImamUlHaq and Abdullah Shafique have done very well in Tests over the year so we will not change the settled opening stand.’’

‘‘I have played at No. 3 and want to get used to it’’, he added.

Pakistan will travel to Australia for a three-match series as part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship, starting from December 14 onwards. Pakistan have not won a Test in this country for 28 years, having lost their last 14 consecutive Tests here.

Pakistan have appointed Shan Masood as their Test captain shortly after Babar Azam stepped down from captaincy in all three formats.

Masood’s captaincy marks a remarkable ascent for a man who made his Test debut over a decade ago but never managed to nail a place in the side. He was repeatedly dropped after two or three Test matches where impressive scores were followed by extended barren runs and went on to spend lengthy periods out of the side.

His first assignment is the one that Pakistan has historically found hardest of all, an away series in Australia.