Shaheen Afridi, Imam-ul-haq dropped as Pakistan team name their playing XI for the third test in Sydney

Pakistan have dropped Shaheen Afridi and Imam-ul-haq for Sydney test.

Pakistan have made a few surprising changes in their playing XI for the final test match against Australia in Sydney. Pakistan dropped star pacer Shaheen Afridi and opener Imam-ul-haq for the final test match at Syndey Cricket Ground and have brought in the young 21-year-old left-handed opening batter Saim Ayub, who is set to make his test debut. Off-spinner Sajid Khan is also making his comeback into Pakistan playing XI after 21 months.

After hitting a fifty in the first innings at Optus Stadium in Perth, Imam-ul-Haq scored only 32 runs in the next three innings. Imam’s persistent struggle against Australian seamers on hard wickets prompted the team management to make changes and give young Saim Ayub his test debut as a reward for his consistent performance in first-class cricket.

Major changes in Pakistan line-up

Saim Ayub has already made his international debut and has played 8 T20I games for Pakistan in 2023 withing one month. Saim Ayub has played 14 first-class games and scored 1069 runs at an average of 46.47 and strike rate of 70 with 3 centuries and 3 half-centuries. Ayub will be accompanying Abdullah Shafique who scored 110 runs in 4 innings in the ongoing series.

Shaheen Afridi has also been dropped from Pakistan’s playing XI for the final test. Shaheen had a poor game in Perth but made a decent comeback in Melbourne and took 6 wickets in the Boxing Day test. He bowled 99 overs in the previous two test matches. Pakistan have decided to go with an extra spinner and have opted for Sajid Khan who will be playing a test match after a 21-months long gap.

Wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan has been retained in the playing XI. Rizwan will be playing a huge role for Pakistan in the middle-order batting along with captain Shan Masood and Babar Azam. Saud Shakeel has also found a place in Pakistan’s playing XI against Australia. Mir Hamza, Aamer Jamal, and Hasan Ali will be the three seamers in the playing XI.

Pakistan’s playing XI for the final test against Australia

Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (c), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Sajid Khan, Hasan Ali, Mir Hamza, Aamer Jamal.

For more updates, follow Khel Now Cricket on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.