Mohammad Rizwan takes Sarfaraz Ahmed’s spot in the Pakistani 12-man team for the Boxing Day Test against Australia.

Pakistan will want to recover quickly from their 360-run thumping at the hands of Australia in the opening Test match of the three-match series. On Tuesday, December 26, the second Test kicks off at Melbourne’s famous Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The “Men in Green” have revealed their 12-man roster, from which they will select their starting lineup on game day. Notably, fellow wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan has replaced Sarfaraz Ahmed, who scored just 3 and 4 in the opening two innings of the first Test.

“12-man Pakistani squad announced for second Test In a tweet, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the squad and stated, “The final XI will be named tomorrow.”

Pakistan announce 12-man squad for second Test

The final XI will be named tomorrow.#AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/hZsky4cPcN

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) December 25, 2023

There are numerous injury concerns for the Pakistani team. Khurram Shahzad, the pacer, and Noman Ali, the spinner, are out of the series. The latter had an emergency appendicitis operation, and the former had a fractured rib cage. Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed will also miss the second game; he was injured in the side that prevented him from playing in the first Test.

The lone frontline spinner in the starting XI might be off-spinner Sajid Khan, who was flown to Australia in a hurry before the Perth Test to serve as Abrar’s backup. The 12-man team has been announced. All-rounder Faheem Ashraf has also been left off the roster.

As the third seamer in the starting lineup, Hasan Ali appears to be the favorite to take Shahzad’s spot. He faced New Zealand in his final Test match of the year earlier this year.

Pakistan’s prospects of winning their first-ever Test series in Australia will depend on their performance in the second Test. Since 1995, they have failed to win a Test match played in Australia.