Pakistan have announced their XI for the third Test of the three-match series against Australia. Shaheen Shah Afridi has been rested, while out-of-form opener Imam-ul-Haq has been dropped.

Abrar Ahmed, their lead spinner, still hasn’t recovered from the knee injury he suffered in the tour match before the first Test and won’t be available for the third Test as well. Off-spinner Sajid Khan, who was flown in as cover for Abrar, has been named in the XI and is set to feature at the Sydney Cricket Ground for the eighth Test of his career.

Pakistan played four seamers in each of the first two Test matches of the series, but will go in with only three in Sydney, as Sajid will replace Shaheen. Sajid will become the first frontline spinner to play for Pakistan in the series.

At the top of the order, young sensation Saim Ayub is set to make his Test debut, replacing Imam-ul-Haq. The latter has only one score of more than 15 in his last six Test innings.

Ayub had a sensational 2023, performing across formats in domestic cricket and franchise leagues around the world. He has already played eight T20Is for Pakistan and is set to become the eighth Pakistani debutant to open the batting in Australia.

The rest of the Pakistan line-up remains the same with Mohammad Rizwan continuing as the wicketkeeper and Salman Ali Agha holding on to his position at No.7.

The third match, which is also going to be farewell Test for David Warner, starts on January 3 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Pakistan are 8/1 outsiders with Betway to claim a rare victory in Australia.

Pakistan XI for Sydney Test vs 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.

🚨 Our playing XI for the SCG Test 🚨#AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/xTJzOcgy2n

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) January 2, 2024