Islamabad: Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam says Australia have enough depth to successfully replace their rested stars in the one-day international series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates later this month.
"They have enough bench strength," Alam said on Wednesday.
Australia will rest captain Ricky Ponting, top order batsman Mike Hussey and paceman Mitchell Johnson for the series beginning on April 22.
The team will be led by Michael Clarke. All-rounders Shane Watson and Andrew Symonds were recalled while injured paceman Brett Lee was also provided an opportunity to push for a place in the Twenty20 World Cup and Ashes series in England, fitness pending.
"Australians are playing non-stop international cricket so that was one of the reason that they have given rest to their senior players ahead of two important assignments," Alam said.
"Nevertheless even without three key players, I believe they are a very good side."
Dubai will host the first two matches (Apr. 22 and Apr. 24) before the series moves to Abu Dhabi (Apr. 27, May 1 and May 3). There will be a Twenty20 game in Dubai on May 7.
Australia will fly to the UAE after the completion of its current one-day series in South Africa on April 17.
Alam returned home Wednesday after inspecting the pitches being prepared for the five-match series.
"The wickets in UAE might not be as much bouncy as the ones in South Africa and it will be interesting how Aussies adjust to the conditions," Alam said.
"I am fully satisfied with the pitch preparations in both the cities and I do hope that it will be good sporting tracks."
Pakistan has recalled veteran fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar after he cleared a strenuous three-day fitness test last week. Akhtar, 33, has played just two one-day internationals since Nov. 2007 due to disciplinary and fitness problems.
"A fit Shoaib is certainly an asset of the team and it makes our team more stronger," Alam said.
The neutral venue is being used because Australia had declined to tour Pakistan on security grounds, even before the terror attack on the Sri Lanka test team last month in Lahore that injured seven members of the touring party and left six police men and a driver dead.
The teams have not played each other in a one-day international since Feb. 2005 when Australia recorded a 31-run victory in Sydney.
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