Cricket Australia (CA) chief James Sutherland is confident Pakistan will pull in large crowds when it features in the Boxing Day and New Year's Test Down Under.

Australia were hoping to take on world number one South Africa for its season's biggest Tests but with the Proteas engaged in other fixtures, the showdown between the two teams will now take place in November.

“[Having South Africa play later] just wasn't possible,” CA chief executive James Sutherland told ABC news on Monday.

“We're very optimistic we can find a way for them to come back and play Boxing Day [and] New Year's Test matches the next time they tour,” he said.

The CA chief said Pakistan was “not to be underestimated” and with Misbah-ul-Haq's side gradually rising in the Test rankings table, the match-up could make for exciting viewing.

“I think Pakistan are up to four in the rankings and points-wise not too away far from knocking off Australia,” he said.

“Certainly the last time we played them (in the UAE) they were very competitive, or we were uncompetitive, depending on how you wanna look at it.”

Pakistan will play their first Test series of 2016 against England. The visit will be the team's first since the infamous spot-fixing scandal in 2010 and will include four Tests, five ODIs and one T20.

A series with the West Indies (three Tests) and New Zealand follows (two Tests) in October and November before Pakistan finally make the trip to Australia in December.

Pakistan achieved their first series win over Australia in 20 years with thumping wins in the UAE in 2014, taking the two-match series 2-0.