In order to manage Shaheen Shah Afridi fatigue following their team’s defeats in the first two Tests of the series, Pakistan has chosen to give him a break for the New Year’s Test in Sydney, commencing on January 3.
Given the impending T20 World Cup, Pakistan team management has made it clear that, should they lose the Boxing Day Test, Shaheen Afridi will not be selected for the third match.
Sajid Khan took the ace pacer’s place in the starting lineup. After Abrar Ahmed was declared out of the series during the first Test, the 30-year-old took his position. In the tour match against Victoria XI, he made an appearance but was unable to make an impression as he only managed to score six runs and take one wicket.
However, following a strong showing in Melbourne, Mohammad Rizwan has managed to hold onto his spot. As captain Shan Masood continued to support him over veteran Sarfaraz Ahmed, he hit 42 and 35 to secure his place in the playing XI.
In the last test of the series, Babar Azam will be the main subject. After resigning as captain of Pakistan, it was anticipated that he would improve as a batsman, but that hasn’t happened. The 29-year-old’s authority with the bat outside of Asia has been called into doubt because he has only scored 77 runs in four innings thus far in this series.
With Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf absent, the bowling unit appears weak in the interim. Rauf chose to play in the Big Bash League (BBL) rather than Test cricket, while Naseem is now rehabilitating from a shoulder injury and should return before the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Hasan Ali will have to shoulder more of the ball’s duty in their absence.
Australia’s playing XI against Pakistan in the third Test
Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (c), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Agha, Sajid Khan, Hasan Ali, Mir Hamza, and Aamir Jamal.
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