SYDNEY: Left-handed opening batter Saim Ayub is set to make his Test debut as Pakistan announced their playing XI for the third Test of the three-match Test series against Australia, which is starting tomorrow at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
Pakistan have made two changes for the final Test of the series, with 21-year-old Saim Ayub replacing Imam-ul-Haq and off-spinner Sajid Khan replacing vice-captain Shaheen Afridi.
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) unveiled the playing XI for the Sydney Test.
The lineup features Pakistan captain Shan Masood, Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Hasan Ali, Sajid Khan, and Mir Hamza.
Our playing XI for the SCG Test
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) January 2, 2024
Left-handed opening batter Saim Ayub has earned his maiden call-up to the Test team after an impressive run in the recently concluded Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2023-24.
The 22-year-old scored 553 runs in four matches for Karachi Whites, with the help of three centuries, including a match-winning double-century against Faisalabad in the final of the tournament.
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Meanwhile, Australia have made no changes to their 13-men squad from the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.
For the unversed, Australia have attained an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series after defeating Pakistan in the second Test.
Pakistan Playing XI for Sydney Test
Shan Masood (c), Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Hasan Ali, Sajid Khan, and Mir Hamza.
Australia Test squad
Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Steve Smith, Mitch Starc, David Warner.
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