End of road for Imam-ul-Haq, Pakistan to give debut to young batter in third Test
Pakistan is gearing up for the final Test against Australia in Sydney, contemplating adjustments to their playing 11 after a defeat in the second Test. The team, hungry for a Test win in Australia, has faced 16 consecutive losses since 1995-96.
In a bid to break this losing streak, a PTI report suggests the inclusion of the 21-year-old uncapped opener, Saim Ayub. With an impressive record in 14 first-class matches for Karachi, Ayub boasts an average of 46.47, including three fifties and three centuries.
The move to bring in Ayub comes amid criticism of Imam-ul-Haq’s slow batting. The team management aims to revitalize the batting order with Ayub’s potential inclusion.
In addition to Ayub’s debut, the team is monitoring the fitness of young spinner Abrar Ahmed, who is nursing leg discomfort. If Ahmed is unavailable, Sajid Khan, the young off-spinner, is poised to take his place, replacing Hasan Ali.
The bowling strategy is under scrutiny, with Mir Hamza’s impactful performance in the previous Test prompting consideration of his inclusion over Hasan Ali. Aamer Jamal, with three crucial wickets in the first innings, also adds depth to the bowling attack.
As Pakistan seeks to end their winless streak in Australia, the final Test holds special significance for David Warner, who aims to make a strong statement in his last Test before retiring from the longest format.
Pakistan squad: Shan Masood (c), Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Aamer Jamal, Agha Salman, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Sajid Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Hasan Ali, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Noman Ali.
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