‘He is experienced and owns a great personal record. He is second to none. We are looking up to him and he is a key member of our team,’ Lee told a news conference in Jaipur.

In 2004, Australia won the four-test series 2-1 to record their first series victory on Indian soil in 35 years.

From the current squad only skipper Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden, Michael Clarke and Simon Katich have test experience in India as the tourists are rebuilding following a series of high-profile retirements.

‘The younger guys coming through had to start somewhere and what better stage and what better opportunity than to play in India,’ said Lee, who was named in the 2004 squad before withdrawing through injury.

‘The cricket is pretty hard work out here as well and so we have to make sure we have our plans in place. We are looking forward to it and we are definitely up to the challenge.’

Lee will spearhead a largely inexperienced bowling attack with Doug Bollinger and Peter Siddle from in the pace attack and both spinners Bryce McGain and Jason Krejza uncapped.

‘The pitches aren't conducive to fast bowling over here. We (quicks) definitely have our work cut out,’ he added.

PCB chief operating officer Shafqat Naghmi told a news conference on Tuesday that India had approved the itinerary, which includes three tests, five one-day internationals, a Twenty20 game and a three-day tour match.

According to the schedule, India will arrive in Pakistan on Jan 4 and play tests in Karachi, Rawalpindi and Lahore.

‘The Indians have approved the itinerary and our security plan but will send a security delegation for an inspection tour before the series,’ he said.

‘If their delegation makes any recommendations, we will look into them but for the time being, this itinerary is approved.’

The test tour will be India's third in Pakistan since 2004.

Tour itinerary:

Jan 4:Arrival in Karachi

Jan 6-8:Three-day tour match - Hyderabad

Jan 13-17:First test - Karachi

Jan 21-25:Second test - Rawalpindi

Jan 29-Feb 2: Third test - Lahore

Feb 6:First one-day international - Faisalabad

Feb 8:Second one-day international - Lahore

Feb 11:Third one-day international - Rawalpindi

Feb 14:Fourth one-day international - Multan

Feb 17:Fifth one-day international - Karachi

Feb 19:Twenty20 international - Karachi

Batting superstar Sachin Tendulkar will be available for India's upcoming Test series against Australia despite racing against time to be fit, an official said on Monday.

Tendulkar, 35, opted out of a five-day trial match starting in Vadodara on Wednesday after being advised to take a week's rest to recover from an elbow injury sustained during the recent Sri Lanka tour.

The news sent shockwaves across India, but cricket board secretary Niranjan Shah denied media reports that Tendulkar could miss the four-Test series against the world champions starting on October 9.

"The physiotherapist wants him to take another week off as a precautionary measure, but he will certainly be available for the Test matches," Shah told reporters.

Tendulkar will be replaced by Subramaniam Badrinath in the Rest of India squad that takes on Ranji Trophy champions Delhi in the five-day Irani Cup match in Vadodara.

The Indian squad for the first Test in Bangalore will be named after the match.

Tendulkar, a veteran of 150 Tests, needs 77 runs to overtake retired West Indian Brian Lara's record tally of 11,953 runs and become Test cricket's highest run-getter.

The Indian already has a record 39 Test and 42 one-day centuries and is also the world's leading one-day batsman with 16,361 runs from 417 matches.

Tendulkar is hoping to make amends for a poor series in Sri Lanka, where his highest score was 31 in three Tests which the hosts won 2-1.

The world's most senior cricketer, who made his Test debut in 1989, has been plagued by a spate of injuries in recent times and underwent corrective surgery on his left elbow in 2005.

Tendulkar injured the elbow again while attempting to take a catch in the third Test in Sri Lanka last month and missed the subsequent one-day series.

- AFP