Australia included 43-year-old spinner Brad Hogg for their first match, making him the oldest player to take part in the World Twenty20 competitions since the inaugural event in 2007.
Pakistan made one change from the team that lost to India by seven wickets on Friday, replacing seamer Junaid Khan with 35-year-old left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar.
India, the West Indies and hosts Bangladesh are the other teams in the group, from which the top two will advance to the semifinals.
Injury-plagued Australia begin their quest for the only major title missing from their overflowing cupboard when they clash with shaky Pakistan.
Pakistan's seven-wicket drubbing at India's hands on Friday night should give Australia added confidence for the group two Super-10 game at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium.
But skipper Bailey refused to take victory for granted, insisting instead that it was spin-heavy Pakistan that held the advantage.
Pakistan, who lost opening encounter to India, are now in a must-win scenario against the Aussies. They have done well against them in T20s and enjoy a 6-4 record.
They beat Australia by 32 runs on a spin-friendly surface at Colombo's R Premadasa Stadium in the previous edition of the tournament.
In the World T20 though, the record is 2-2 with Australia's two wins coming in St Lucia in the 2010 edition of the event.
Australia, already missing premier fast bowler Mitchell Johnson due to a toe infection, will also be without all-rounder James Faulkner for the opening match.
Australia, who have won the 50-over World Cup four times and are a leading Test side, have made the final of the World Twenty20 just once in four attempts, losing the title to England in 2010.
Teams:
Australia: George Bailey (captain), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin, Brad Hodge, Brad Hogg, Doug Bollinger, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, David Warner, Shane Watson.
Pakistan: Mohammad Hafeez (captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Bilawal Bhatti, Kamran Akmal, Saeed Ajmal, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Sohaib Maqsood, Umar Akmal, Umar Gul, Zulfiqar Babar.
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