Wasim's absence is a disappointment for Langer

"What team turns up and what coach turns up, you are never going to know."

Pakistan recently sacked coach Mudassar Nazar as coach after a sequence of six defeats in their last ten one-day internationals.

Captain Waqar Younis retained his role but will be unable to call on the services of key batsmen Saeed Anwar, Yousuf Youhana and Inzamam-ul Haq.

His fellow paceman Wasim Akram is also out of the squad after deciding to concentrate on one-day cricket with the World Cup looming.

Langer was unhappy that Akram would not be available and that the series would not take place in Pakistan, where Australia won 1-0 in 1998.

Disappointing absence

"There are a few disappointments, one that it is not in Pakistan, obviously there are reasons for that, but it is always good to play a Test series in home countries," Langer said.

"And I see Wasim Akram, the best fast bowler I have ever played against in Test cricket, not playing so that is disappointing."

Langer will resume an opening partnership with Matthew Hayden that shared double-century stands in each of Australia's three home Tests last winter against South Africa to set the platform for a clean sweep.

They also opened with a double-century stand in the first Test against New Zealand to join West Indian greats Desmond Haynes and Gordon Greenidge as the only opening pairs in history to complete four double-hundred partnerships.