Tim Paine in doubt for pre-season camp ahead of UAE tour

Australia's Test captain Tim Paine is uncertain for the side's pre-season camp in Brisbane this month, in the lead-up to the series against Pakistan in the UAE, given he is awaiting the birth of his second child. The 33-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman, however, could be available for two-match Test series, starting from October 7 in Dubai.

"The plan is for me to stay home, get them [wife and child] home and settled in and then I'll leave from here," Paine told Fairfax Media. "I should be okay. We are hoping in the next 10 days we will probably have him [baby boy]. That will give me a week at home before I head off after that."

Paine had taken over as Australia's captain in March earlier this year after Steven Smith and David Warner had been removed from their leadership roles following the ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town.

Paine has led Australia in six matches so far, with the side losing all the games. Australia had suffered their first-ever 5-0 whitewash against England in the ODI series in June, with Paine only managing 36 runs in five innings at an average of 7.20 and strike rate of 78.26.

To add to Australia's troubles, in the UAE they will be without opener Cameron Bancroft, who is serving a nine-month ban for his role in the ball-tampering row, and quicks Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, who are injured.

"It's going to be a huge challenge - we haven't had a lot of success playing in the subcontinent," Paine said. "It's not something we are worried about. It's a huge opportunity and great place to start if we can go over there and play well and win a series."