Pakistan rests Shaheen Afridi, drops Imam-ul-Haq for SCG Test

A Pakistan star will sit out the Sydney Test as the touring side unveils a debutant among two changes in the final game of the series.

A heavy workload in the Boxing Day Test has led to Pakistan putting star bowler Shaheen Afridi on ice in preparation for a T20 series rather than playing the final Test.

The tourists have also axed the senior member of their opening pair, Imam-ul-Haq, and will turn to debutant Saim Ayub on Wednesday after the former returned scores of 62, 10, 10 and 12 in Perth and Melbourne.

Afridi will not play at the SCG after he bowled 27 overs in both innings last week in Melbourne, including a second-innings haul of 4-76.

It is understood the left-arm quick, who was appointed Pakistan’s T20 captain in November, has been rested ahead of the five-match series against New Zealand beginning January 12.

He took on a significantly higher workload than Pakistan’s other three quick bowlers at the MCG as they only turned to part-time spinner Salman Ali Agha for 11 overs during the match.

Pakistan has left out star fast bowler Shaheen Afridi from the Sydney Test and brought in off-spinner Sajid Khan. Picture: Mark Evans / Getty Images

The visitors have turned back to a specialist spinner in Afridi’s place, with off-spin bowler Sajid Khan included in the side as first-choice option Abrar Ahmed continues to battle a leg complaint ahead of the T20 series.

Australian captain Pat Cummins confirmed he would take an unchanged XI into the clash, which is expected to be affected by rain at times in the opening three days.

Pakistan skipper Shan Masood said his side was looking “at the bigger picture” after its 79-run loss in Melbourne, and wanted his teammates to replicate their effort across the match.

“You always have to look at the bigger picture after a game like the MCG,” he said.

“We’ve learned the lessons, at least we’ve put ourselves in those positions from where we could compete in or dominate games.

“It’s now about not repeating mistakes, and if we can put in similar efforts to the one at the MCG, we’ll be winning a lot of Tests.”

Final XIs for Sydney Test, January 3-7

Australia: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (c), Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

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