Sharjah, Aug 27 (ANI): Australian pacer Mitchell Starc believes fast bowlers will play a big role on the dry pitches in their limited-overs series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates.

The left-armer grabbed 4-47 and was ably assisted by new-ball partner James Pattinson (3-46) and Mitchell Johnson (2-34) to help Australia beat Afghanistan by 66 runs in Sharjah at the weekend.

With hype over the spin-friendly pitches in the limited over series against Pakistan starting tomorrow, Starc believed fast bowlers will not be ineffective.

We prepared for wickets that were going to spin a lot. The quicks took nine of our wickets so the fast bowlers are going to play a massive part as well as the spinners in these conditions, Starc said of the Afghanistan match.

Pakistan will rely more on their spin trio of Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Hafeez and Shahid Afridi, a fact Starc believed makes them a dangerous side, News.com.au reports.

Pakistan are a dangerous side so I think we are going to have to sit down and work out a plan. We have to be at our best to beat them, said Starc.

To avoid the oppressive heat in the day, all one-day matches in the UAE will be played at 6pm in the evening and finish at 1.45am the next day, an unusual timing for all three teams.

The second match will be played in Abu Dhabi (August 31) and the third in Sharjah (September 3). All three Twenty20 internationals will be played in Dubai on September 5, 7 and 10. (ANI)