MIRPUR, BANGLADESH - AUGUST 27: Josh Hazlewood of Australia prepares to bowl during day one of the First Test match between Bangladesh and Australia at Shere Bangla National Stadium on August 27, 2017 in Mirpur, Bangladesh. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Recent Test history suggests pace bowling will play a larger role than first anticipated in Australia's three-Test tour of Pakistan in March.

Australia are due to end a 24-year absence from Pakistan, ahead of Test tours to Sri Lanka in June-July and India next year.

The trio of subcontinental tours has been dubbed as a chance to unleash and test Australia's spin bowling credentials, including the likely chance for Mitchell Swepson to make his Test debut.

But opting for a standard three-man pace attack may prove to be more advantageous in Pakistan, all the while not being a gross departure from a formula that is familiar to the Australians.

In five Tests that Pakistan have hosted since their reintroduction to hosting international cricket in 2019 have seen fast bowlers take 89 wickets (at an average of just below 30), compared to 48 wickets from spinners (at just below 40).

Quicks have bowled 60 per cent of the overs bowled across those five Tests, also claiming a higher strike rate to spinners.

It is perhaps a statistical anomaly in comparison to neighbouring Asian nations, who have more characteristically favoured the services of spin bowlers. Spinners have taken 258 wickets in recent Tests in India, compared to 150 taken by pace bowlers.

The most recent Test match to be played in India saw New Zealand's spin bowler Ajaz Patel take all 10 wickets in an innings in a very rare feat.

During the same period of time in Sri Lanka, pace bowlers have taken 65 wickets at an average of 37, while spinners have taken 179 wickets at 31.5.

Former Test and ODI batter Bazid Khan, who has commentated on cricket in Pakistan for the past decade, says playing in Pakistan is totally different.

"The general perception, which I think is wrong, is … there's going to be two spinners in the game and it's going to spin all the way through," he told Cricket.com.au.

"Pakistan is totally different to India. The ball is not going to spin straight away and mostly the wickets have been taken by the faster men rather than the spinners.

"I think if you don't have two world-class spinners, you don't play them here."

He noted that Pakistan have bowled teams out quickly once the ball starts to reverse swinging, with the attack's spearhead Shaheen Afridi taking the most wickets of any fast bowler in 2021 (47 wickets from nine matches).

Australian selector Tony Dodemaide admits Australia are not familiar with conditions in Pakistan given the length of time between tours.

But Cameron Green's rise to stardom with the ball during the 2021-22 Ashes series provides the Australians with the flexibility to play two spinners with lower risk of it backfiring.

He has taken nine wickets average of 15.44 this summer, including key wickets of key England batter Ben Stokes and Joe Root. Just under a third of his 64 overs bowled in the series have been maidens, while he regularly nudges the 140km/h mark.

Australia will nonetheless be assured by the versatility of their fast bowling stocks, having unveiled an unlikely hero in Scott Boland, along with the possibility of calling up Jhye Richardson and Michael Neser.

Josh Hazelwood should be fit in time for the tour after suffering a side strain in the first Test this summer, while Pat Cummins will of course lead the side on tour.

Selectors will, in due course, reveal which pace bowlers make the trip to Pakistan.

Australia v England - 3rd Test: Day 3
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 28: Scott Boland of Australia appeals successfully for LBW to dismiss Jonny Bairstow of England during day three of the Third Test match in the Ashes series between Australia and England at Melbourne Cricket Ground on December 28, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Australia and Pakistan are due to play three Tests in Karachi (March 3-7), Rawalpindi (March 12-16) and Lahore (March 21-25), before three ODIs in Lahore (March 29, March 31, April 2) and a T20I in Lahore (April 5).

Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley said this week "the absolute plan is to go" to Pakistan as officials still consider security elements of the tour.

"At this stage I feel like we're in really good shape," he said.

"Everyone's committed to going ... as long as it's safe to do so.

"The historical significance of this tour cannot be underestimated."

Australian batter Usman Khawaja, who was born in Pakistan, has urged his side to take part in the tour.

In a Sydney Morning Herald report, Australian Cricketer's Association chief Todd Greenberg assured the Australian players that "he would travel to Pakistan with the squad" and would be fine with "one or two players" opting not to take the trip.