Dubai, Apr. 15 : Pakistan’s charismatic cricket captain Younis Khan has said that he is ready to take on the Australians in a one-day series in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, but regrets the fact that Ricky Ponting is missing out.

"I feel very unlucky because this is the first time I have got an opportunity to captain my team against Ricky Ponting. He is a fantastic captain and I will miss him," said Khan before the start of his first practice session at the Dubai Sports City''s new stadium for the Chapal Cup one-day series against Australia from April 22.

Australia has rested Ponting along with Mitchell Johnson and Michael Hussey for the series.

"Though Australia has rested some players they are still not a weak team. Top players like Andrew Symonds, Shaun Marsh and Shane Watson have replaced them. The standard of the Australian team is so high that they will never miss any senior player like Ricky Ponting. They always have the commitment to win and so it won''t be easy for us," Gulf News quoted Khan, as saying.

Talking about the confidence level of his team which has not been getting enough international matches, Khan said: "We are unlucky that we are not getting to play many one-day matches. Australia is a high ranked team. We had our series against Sri Lanka cut short. However, our players are in good touch, playing in domestic cricket. As international cricketers, we have to get used to all conditions and situations."

Khan is delighted that the series is being held in the UAE. "For Pakistan, UAE is home for us. We have played many times in Abu Dhabi. We don''t actually feel that we are playing outside Pakistan and so it looks like home for us."

Khan thanked his cricket board for ensuring that this series is held at all cost. (ANI)