In a significant development in the cricketing world, Pakistan has made the bold decision to leave out veteran wicketkeeper Sarfaraz Ahmed for their upcoming Boxing Day Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. This move comes as part of a series of changes in the Pakistani squad, captained by Shan Masood, for their second Test against Australia.
The Pakistani team, already compelled to adjust their lineup due to injuries to Noman Ali and Khurram Shahzad, has opted for a strategic shift by including Mohammad Rizwan in place of Sarfaraz Ahmed. This change is particularly noteworthy as it follows Sarfaraz's underwhelming performance in the first Test match against Australia, where he struggled against the bowling of Mitchell Starc.
On the other side, Australia has decided to retain its winning combination from the first Test held at the Optus Stadium in Perth. The Australian team, having demonstrated a dominant performance leading to a substantial 360-run victory over Pakistan, sees no need for alterations in their lineup. Notably, they have chosen not to include Scott Boland, the local favorite at the MCG, despite his remarkable 6/7 haul on his debut against England in the 2021-22 season.
Pakistan, reeling from their heavy loss in the first Test, where the team's overall performance was lacking, is looking to make a strong comeback in Melbourne. Shan Masood's side is placing their hopes on Mohammad Rizwan to bolster the middle-order batting, aiming to level the series against the formidable Australian team.
"We think Rizwan is ready and we can give Sarfaraz a little bit of a break to recoup and come back," captain Shan Masood told reporters.
"It was more of a tactical decision in terms of the conditions and getting the best out of each player in those conditions," he further added.
This upcoming Test at the iconic MCG is poised to be a crucial encounter, with Pakistan seeking redemption and Australia looking to maintain their dominance. The inclusion of Rizwan and the retention of Australia's successful XI adds an intriguing dimension to this much-anticipated match.
Pakistan XII: Imam-Ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (c), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali, Mir Hamza, Aamir Jamal, Sajid Khan (final team to be confirmed at the coin toss)
Australia XI: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (c), Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
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