Pakistan Playing 11 vs Australia – 1st Test, 2023

Pakistan takes on Australia in the first of the three-match Test series in Perth. The first Test starts on December 14. The Test series is a part of the ongoing WTC 2023-25 cycle. Pakistan are topping the WTC points table heading into this series. They have a 100 percent PCT point winning two out of two matches. Shan Masood has been named their new Test skipper.

Pakistan’s controversial World Cup campaign made the PCB go under wholesale changes. Babar Azam stepped down as the Pakistan captain across formats after the World Cup.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Hafeez took over the team director role from Mickey Arthur, and former cricketer Wahab Riaz was appointed as the new PCB chief selector. Shaheen Afridi is the new T20I skipper. Shan Masood was named the new Test skipper. Pakistan have a young and inexperienced Test side and they need to cope with the conditions in Australia.

Also Read: Cricket Australia CEO Reacts To Mohammad Hafeez’s Criticism About Australian Pitch

The Men in Green will now want to focus on red-ball cricket with the chance to beat Australia in Australia. They were whitewashed when they last visited Pakitan in 2019. Australia beat them 1-0 when they visited Pakistan in 2022 under the captaincy of Pat Cummins.

Going into the first Test, leg spinner Abrar Ahmed has been ruled out of the first Test against Australia due to an ankle injury. Right-arm off-spinner Sajid Khan is his replacement. In this article, we predict Australia’s XI for the first Test.

Pakistan Playing 11 vs Australia – 1st Test, 2023

Imam-Ul-Haq

Imam will open the batting for Pakistan. He recently played in the ODI World Cup. The southpaw has played 22 Tests for Pakistan and is approaching 2000 Test runs.

Abdullah Shafique

The right-hander Shafique will open the batting with Imam. He was a late replacement in the ODI World Cup and showcased good skills with the bat. He has a good defence which will be required in the series against Australia.

Shan Masood

The skipper will slot in at three. He has played 30 Tests himself and approaching close to 1500 Test runs. Masood scored an unbeaten 201 in the warm-up game against Australia President’s XI.

Babar Azam

Babar will slot in at four. He is the most experienced batter in the lineup with 49 Test matches under his belt. The next Test will be his 50t for Pakistan. he is approaching 4000 Test runs.

Saud Shakeel

Shakeel will bat at five. He scored 13 in the practice match against Australia President’s XI. the 28-year-old is just seven Test matches old closing in on 1000 runs in the format.

Sarfaraz Ahmed (WK)

The former skipper will slot in at six. He no longer plays T20Is or ODIs but is the first-choice keeper in Test matches. He has played 53 Test matches, the most by any player in this Test squad.

Agha Salman

Agha Salman the all-rounder can slot in at seven. This lengthens the Pakistan batting lineup and gives them a spin option in the top seven. Salman has played nine Tests for Pakistan.

Shaheen Afridi

Afridi will lead the pace attack. He has played 27 Test matches and picked up 105 wickets. He is the new T20I skipper of Pakistan. Afridi has to remain injury-free to play all three Test matches.

Hasan Ali

Hasan Ali will be the second seamer in this XI. He has played 22 Test matches and picked up 78 wickets. The pacer was also a part of Pakistan’s World Cup squad.

Mohammad Wasim Jr

Mohammad Wasim will be the third seamer in this XI. He is a tall and lanky pacer who can bowl with pace and get the ball to swing. Wasim has played just two Test matches for Pakistan.

Sajid Khan

The off-spinner concludes the likely Pakistan XI for the first Test. He will replace Abrar Ahmed in the XI. He has taken 22 wickets in seven Test matches for his country.

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