Pakistan announced 12 players for the second test match at Melbourne, which will start from December 26, 2023. The visitors made four changes to their squad that lost the first test by 360 runs at Perth. They dropped opener Imam-ul-Haq, middle-order batsman Salman Ali Agha, spinner Nauman Ali, and pacer Aamir Jamal. They replaced them with Abdullah Shafique, Saud Shakeel, Usman Qadir, and Khurram Shahzad. In this article, we will examine the Pakistan announced 12 players for second test match at Melbourne and see if they can avoid a whitewash.
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Pakistan Announced 12 Players for Second Test Match at Melbourne: The Changes
The Pakistan announced 12 players for second test match at Melbourne are as follows:
- Shan Masood (captain)
- Abdullah Shafique
- Babar Azam
- Saud Shakeel
- Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper)
- Faheem Ashraf
- Shaheen Afridi
- Sajid Khan
- Usman Qadir
- Khurram Shahzad
- Zahid Mahmood
- Mohammad Nawaz (12th man)
The most notable change is the inclusion of Abdullah Shafique, who will make his test debut as an opener. Shafique is a 22-year-old right-handed batsman who has impressed in domestic cricket and the Pakistan Super League. He has scored 927 runs in 8 first-class matches at an average of 77.25, with four centuries and three fifties. He also scored a century on his T20I debut against Zimbabwe in November 2020. He will partner with Shan Masood, who will also lead the team in the absence of regular captain Mohammad Rizwan, who is ruled out due to a concussion.
Another debutant is Saud Shakeel, who will bat at number four. Shakeel is a 26-year-old left-handed batsman who has scored 956 runs in 10 first-class matches at an average of 50.32, with three centuries and five fifties. He also has a good record in List A and T20 cricket, and has been part of the Pakistan A and Emerging teams. He will replace Salman Ali Agha, who scored 36 and 0 in the first test.
The third debutant is Khurram Shahzad, who will join the pace attack. Shahzad is a 25-year-old right-arm fast bowler who has taken 38 wickets in 6 first-class matches at an average of 18.86, with three five-wicket hauls. He also has a good record in white-ball cricket, and has been part of the Pakistan Shaheens and Emerging teams. He will replace Aamir Jamal, who took 1 for 97 in the first test.
The fourth change is the inclusion of Usman Qadir, who will be the lone spinner in the team. Qadir is a 28-year-old leg-spinner who is the son of the legendary Abdul Qadir. He has taken 40 wickets in 7 first-class matches at an average of 38.75, with one five-wicket haul. He also has a good record in limited-overs cricket, and has played 9 T20Is for Pakistan, taking 15 wickets at an average of 16.13. He will replace Nauman Ali, who took 2 for 55 in the first test.
Pakistan Announced 12 Players for Second Test Match at Melbourne: The Analysis
The Pakistan announced 12 players for second test match at Melbourne reflect a desperate attempt to save the series and avoid a whitewash. The visitors have opted for drastic and illogical changes, dropping four players who were part of the squad that toured Australia in 2022 and lost both the tests by an innings. They have replaced them with four players who have never played a test match in Australia, and three of them have never played a test match at all.
The Pakistan announced 12 players for second test match at Melbourne also show a lack of confidence and consistency. The visitors have made 10 changes to their playing XI in the last three tests they have played. They have not given enough chances to their players to settle and perform. They have also not shown faith in their players who have done well in the past. For example, Imam-ul-Haq, who was dropped for the second test, scored a century in his last test in Australia in 2019. Similarly, Nauman Ali, who was also dropped, was the leading wicket-taker for Pakistan in the test series against South Africa and Zimbabwe earlier this year.
The Pakistan announced 12 players for second test match at Melbourne also expose their weaknesses and vulnerabilities. The visitors have a fragile and inexperienced batting line-up, which will face a formidable Australian bowling attack on a bouncy and seaming pitch. The visitors have a weak and inexperienced bowling attack, which will struggle to contain and dismiss a strong Australian batting line-up on a flat and hard pitch. The visitors have a poor and inexperienced fielding unit, which will miss chances and leak runs on a big and fast outfield.
The Pakistan announced 12 players for second test match at Melbourne also raise a lot of questions and doubts. How will the debutants cope with the pressure and expectations of playing a test match in Australia? How will the captaincy affect the performance and form of Shan Masood, who has scored only one fifty in his last 10 test innings? How will the team balance and combination work with only one spinner and four pacers? How will the team morale and unity be affected by the frequent changes and uncertainties?
Pakistan Announced 12 Players for Second Test Match at Melbourne: A Desperate Attempt or a Smart Move?
The Pakistan announced 12 players for second test match at Melbourne can be seen as a desperate attempt or a smart move, depending on the outcome and perspective. On one hand, it can be seen as a desperate attempt, as the visitors have shown panic and confusion to make hasty and illogical changes and discard experienced and proven players. They have also shown inconsistency and instability to change their team and plan every match. They have also shown recklessness and risk to gamble with untested and unprepared players and expose them to a tough and hostile environment.
On the other hand, it can be seen as a smart move, as the visitors have shown courage and conviction to make radical changes and give opportunities to young and talented players. They have also shown flexibility and adaptability to suit the conditions and challenges of playing in Australia. They have also shown optimism and hope to bounce back from a heavy defeat and level the series.
The Pakistan announced 12 players for second test match at Melbourne will ultimately be judged by their performance and result. If they manage to surprise and upset the hosts and win the match, they will be hailed as heroes and geniuses. If they fail to compete and lose the match, they will be criticized as fools and failures. Either way, they will have to face the consequences and implications of their decision and actions.
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