| Scores | Upcoming | Results |
Leicester: Pakistan coach Waqar Younis believes his young side is about to undergo a valuable accelerated learning course with their upcoming packed Test programme.
Waqar's men first face Australia in a two-Test series in England starting at Lord's on Tuesday.
Pakistan then stay in Britain for four Tests against England that follow almost immediately afterwards.
They ought to have been playing Australia at home but last year's armed attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore effectively led to the suspension of top-flight international cricket in Pakistan.
Nevertheless the raucous backing the team received while beating Australia in two Twenty20s at Edgbaston in Birmingham, central England, this week suggested Pakistan won't lack for support.
Waqar, speaking after his side's drawn two-day game against Leicestershire here at Grace Road, said: "We have a very young but exciting side and I think they are really looking forward to these Test matches.
"It is a very hectic schedule and there will not be much of a breather," the former Pakistan fast bowler added.
"We have a home series against Australia away from home and an England series, which is always exciting.
"Both these nations are playing superb cricket at the moment. Australia are world-beaters on their day and England are improving every day.
"So it is a tough tour for the youngsters, but also a learning tour for them. In many ways, it is like a restart for Pakistan.
"We have not played cricket in Pakistan for a long time. But we played at Birmingham in the Twenty20 match the other day and had great support.
"If we get something like that at Lord's and Headingley (Yorkshire's Leeds headquarters that will be the venue for the second Test with Australia), that would be great.
"We are not really short of the backing here. It is just that we have got to play to our potential."
Waqar continued: "It is sad not to be playing in Pakistan because we have eight or nine beautiful stadiums.
"It's a shame and it's sad, but that's the way it is. You can't do anything at the moment and we've got to take what's being given."
Pakistan scored 280 for seven in reply to Leicestershire's 296 for seven with fifties from Yasir Hameed, Salman Butt and Umar Amin.
But Test candidates Imran Farhat (six) and Shoaib Malik (10) both failed to spend much time in the middle.
