Aus vs Pak: Shan Masood Speaks Up on Babar Azam and Shaheen’s Rest

Ahead of the final match in the Aus vs Pak series at Sydney Cricket Ground on January 3, Pakistan’s red-ball captain Shan Masood shared insights.

He acknowledged the team’s struggle in fielding, particularly with missed catches, impacting their matches. Shan explained the challenges, mentioning the specialized nature of slip fielding, especially with a pace-heavy bowling attack.

He highlighted Abdullah Shafique’s role in slips, emphasizing his dedicated practice.

Masood mentioned Babar Azam’s potential at slips, praising his skills in that position and expressing confidence in his abilities. He mentioned the importance of comfort and hinted at using Babar in the slip cordon if he felt at ease.

Speaking about Babar Azam’s form, Shan reaffirmed Azam’s significance in the team, expressing no worries about his performance. He emphasized Babar’s positivity, extensive practice, and fitness, anticipating a significant contribution from him in the upcoming Sydney Test.

Shan disclosed the reason behind Shaheen Afridi’s rest for the third Test, citing Shaheen’s workload and the management’s concern about it.

He highlighted Shaheen’s immense contribution, both in matches and during training sessions, emphasizing the team’s commitment to managing Shaheen’s workload for his well-being.

Aus vs Pak Teams for the Sydney Test

Australia Playing XI:

1. David Warner
2. Usman Khawaja
3. Marnus Labuschagne
4. Steve Smith
5. Travis Head
6. Mitchell Marsh
7. Alex Carey
8. Pat Cummins (capt)
9. Mitchell Starc
10. Nathan Lyon
11. Josh Hazlewood

Pakistan Playing XI:

1. Saim Ayub
2. Abdullah Shafique
3. Shan Masood (capt)
4. Babar Azam
5. Saud Shakeel
6. Mohammad Rizwan
7. Agha Salman
8. Hasan Ali
9. Sajid Khan
10. Mir Hamza
11. Aamer Jamal