Pakistan will be without the leader of their bowling attack, Shaheen Shah Afridi, at the New Year’s Test match in Sydney against Australia, starting tomorrow (January 3).
Pakistan have announced their squad for the third Test of the three-match series against Australia. Shaheen Shah Afridi was rested and unwell opener Imam-ul-Haq was withdrawn from the game.
Their main spinner, Abrar Ahmed, is still recovering from a knee injury sustained in a tour match before the first Test and will not be available for the third Test. Off-spinner Sajid Khan, who was flown in to replace Abrar, is included in the starting eleven and is expected to play the eighth Test of his career at the Sydney Cricket Ground. There is.
Pakistan played a four-seamer in each of the first two Test matches of the series, but will be playing only a three-seamer in Sydney as Sajid will replace Shaheen. Sajid will be the first frontline player to play for Pakistan in this series.
At the top of the order, young sensation Saim Ayub will make his Test debut replacing Imam-ul-Haq. The latter is the only time in his last six Test innings in which he has scored more than 15 runs.
Ayoub had a sensational 2023, performing in all formats in the domestic cricket league and franchise leagues across the world. He has already played his eight T20Is for Pakistan and is expected to become the eighth Pakistani debutant to open the batsman in Australia.
The rest of Pakistan’s line-up will remain unchanged with Mohammad Rizwan continuing as wicketkeeper and Salman Ali Agha retaining his No. 7 position.
The third match, which is also David Warner’s farewell match, begins on January 3 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Pakistan XI for Sydney Test vs Australia:
Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafiq, Shan Masood (c), Babar Azam, Saud Shakir, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Sajid Khan, Hasan Ali, Mir Hamza, Aamer Jamal.
🚨 Our playing XI for the SCG Test 🚨#AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/xTJzOcgy2n
– Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) 2. January 2024
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