PCB appointed Shaheen Afridi vice-captain for Test series against Australia

Fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has been appointed vice-captain of the Pakistan Test squad for the series against Australia, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced today.

Shaheen Shah Afridi was recently appointed as the captain for the national squad in T20 cricket. He has played 27 Tests, 53 ODIs and 52 T20Is for the national side.

Shan Masood will lead the national side in an international game after Babar Azam was removed from captaincy in all three cricket formats.Pakistan are set to take on Australia in the first Test of the Benaud-Qadir Trophy at Perth Stadium on 14 December.

Pakistan has not won a Test on Australian soil since 1995. Pakistan have lost 26 matches and won just four in and against Australia, while in the last five series, Pakistan suffered whitewashes.

Pakistan XI

Shan Masood (captain), Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper), Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Aamir Jamal, Khurram Shahzad.

Australia XI

Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Lance Morris, Steve Smith, Mitch Starc, David Warner

Test series schedule

1st Test – Australia vs Pakistan – December 14-18: Perth Stadium – 7 :20 am PST

2nd Test – Australia vs Pakistan – December 26-30: Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) – 4 :30 am PST

3rd Test – Australia vs Pakistan – January 3-7: Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) – 4 :30 am PST