On Tuesday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) revealed that speed bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi and batter Imam-ul-Haq would not be participating in the Sydney Test. Therefore, the eleven-man squad now includes opener Saim Ayub in their stead. In the third Test match takes place from January 3-7 at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). So, the Green Shirts will face off against Australia.
Imam-ul-Haq, Shaheen Afridi exit Sydney Test squad
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Tuesday that Imam-ul-Haq, a batter. Shaheen Shah Afridi, a pacemaker, has been dropped from the Sydney Test. In their place, opener Saim Ayub has been added to the 11-person team. The Green Shirts will play Australia in the third Test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) from January 3–7.
This will be Ayub’s first Test match. Ayub has only played eight Twenty20 games for Pakistan so far. Also, spinner Sajid Khan has been brought in to replace resting pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi. In order to improve the spin bowling because the pitch is likely to help the slower bowlers. Most overs bowled by either team have been by Shaheen. Thus, he has 99.2 overs.
Pakistan playing XI
Shan Masood (captain), Saim Ayub (debut), Abdullah Shafique. Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper). Salman Ali Agha, Sajid Khan, Hassan Ali, Mir Hamza, Aamir Jamal.
