Mohammad Rizwan in, Sarfaraz Ahmed out in playing XI for Boxing Day Test

• Five-day Boxing Day Test to begin from Dec 26. 
• PCB says final XI will be named tomorrow (Tuesday).
• Shan Masood says Rizwan’s record looking good. 

The Pakistan Cricket Board Monday announced the 12-men playing XI for the second Test against Australia with Sarfaraz Ahmed being replaced as the wicketkeeper by Mohammad Rizwan. 

The five-day Boxing Day Test will begin on December 26 (Tuesday) at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. 

The cricket body, however, said that the final XI will be named tomorrow. 

Test captain Shan Masood, while speaking during a press conference, said Sarfaraz made a great comeback after four years. 

“However, Rizwan’s record was looking very good in this condition and considering that, he was selected for the playing XI,” said the captain. 

The 34-year-old skipper said that “dropping” is not an appropriate word to use for Sarfaraz as he has been given some rest. “Sarfaraz will get a chance to play where the conditions are favourable for him,” he added. 

Masood said the Green Shirts will have to improve their batting, adding that the batters will have to play a bit fast as the team is playing 100 overs. 

“Test cricket is difficult for fast bowlers,” added the captain.

Meanwhile, Australia named an unchanged XI for the Boxing Day Test. 

Pakistan XI 

Shan Masood (c), Shaheen Shah Afridi (vc), Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Muhammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Hasan Ali, Mir Hamza, Aamir Jamal, Sajid Khan

Australia XI

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