Australia will tour Pakistan later for the first time in 24 years after the Cricket Australia board signed off on the campaign
Australia's historic tour of Pakistan confirmed
This story was updated on Saturday morning after Langer resigned as Australia's head coach
A 24-year drought will be broken next month after Cricket Australia's Board formally endorsed the men's team's tour of Pakistan.
Following a meeting of CA's directors at the governing body's Jolimont headquarters on Friday, a revised scheduled for the three-Test, three-ODI and one-T20I tour of Pakistan was given the green light.
The Pakistan tour will be the first series abroad for Pat Cummins as Test captain and Australia's first away Tests since the 2019 Ashes.
Revised Pakistan tour dates:
March 4-8: 1st Test, Rawalpindi
March 12-16: 2nd Test, Karachi
March 21-25: 3rd Test, Lahore
March 29: 1st ODI, Rawalpindi
March 31: 2nd ODI, Rawalpindi
April 2: 3rd ODI, Rawalpindi
April 5: T20I, Rawalpindi
Venues for the first and second Tests of the historic campaign have been swapped, with Rawalpindi to now host the first Test (from March 3), Karachi the second (March 12), before the series finale in Lahore (March 21).
Lahore, where Mark Taylor famously scored 334no on Australia's most recent tour of Pakistan in 1998, had also been set to host all the upcoming series' limited-overs matches between March 29 – April 5, but the two teams will now instead travel back to Rawalpindi to play those games.
It comes after a thorough security assessment, including a reconnaissance trip to Pakistan also involving the Australian Cricketers' Association, was completed by Australian officials.
A 2009 terrorist attack on the team bus of the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore put paid to tours from other nations for ensuing years but international teams have gradually started to return to the cricket-mad nation.
Australia are expected to name close to a full-strength squad for the tour in the coming days although Josh Hazlewood has suggested some players may pull out.
"The trust is quite high there from the players, but there'd certainly be some concerns from the players and I wouldn't be surprised if some of them don't make the tour," Hazlewood told cricket.com.au earlier this week.
"And that's very fair. People will discuss it with their families … and come up with an answer and everyone respects that."
Pakistan have lobbied hard for the return of major cricket nations, with several Australian cricketers including Shane Watson and Chris Lynn travelling to the country for recent editions of the Pakistan Super League T20 tournament.
But there have been setbacks.
New Zealand were hours away from playing a T20 International in Rawalpindi in September last year when they abandoned the eight-match tour entirely due to a warning from their government of an escalated security threat.
England then cancelled their own tour of Pakistan not long after.
A safe and successful all-format tour by Australia could encourage other nations to follow suit.
"I would like to thank the PCB and both the Pakistan and Australian Governments for ensuring the tour will proceed for the first time in 24 years," CA's chief executive Nick Hockley said.
"This is a historic occasion and important for the global growth and health of the game.
"I would also like to thank the Australian Cricketers' Association and the players, coaches, support teams, staff and security experts for their collaboration in the planning for the tour.
"We are looking forward to an exciting series between two world-class teams."
Qantas Tour of Pakistan 2022
March 4-8: First Test, Rawalpindi
March 12-16: Second Test, Karachi
March 21-25: Third Test, Lahore
March 29:First ODI, Rawalpindi
March 31: Second ODI, Rawalpindi
April 2: Third ODI, Rawalpindi
April 5: Only T20I, Rawalpindi
All matches to be broadcast in Australia on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports