Pakistan’s Test tour of Australia begins on December 14 (Thursday); here are the selection questions for the team ahead of the game in Perth.

Who bats at No.7?

Pakistan have a settled top order, comprising Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq as openers, followed by new captain Shan Masood, Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel. Masood recently confirmed Sarfaraz Ahmed would start over Mohammad Rizwan in the XI because of his recent form, but the side may look to accommodate both in their side if they want to strengthen the batting on bouncy conditions.

Rizwan has a batting average of 39.52, which increases to 42.53 in ‘SENA’ countries, scoring six fifties in 14 innings in the format. The last time Rizwan toured Australia, he made 37, 95, 0 and 45, batting with a strike rate of 62. Shafique and Shakeel are yet to play a single Test in Australia, and Pakistan might look to add extra experience with Rizwan.

There’s Salman Agha too, who scored 132 not out in his last Test innings, against Sri Lanka. He has made two hundreds and four fifties in nine Tests, but has only played in Asia thus far. Faheem Ashraf, who averages 28.04 with the bat, allows Pakistan to play five bowlers, including a spinner and four seamers, but his inclusion could reduce the batting strength.

Who replaces Abrar Ahmed?

Leg-spinner Abrar, who has had an outstanding start in Test cricket with 38 wickets in six matches, will miss the first game at Perth due to a soreness in his right leg. Pakistan have replaced him with Sajid Khan, with Noman Ali the only other spinner in the squad.

Noman, 37, picked up a seven-wicket haul in his last Test innings, but the Perth wicket but not suit his style of bowling. A left-arm orthodox spinner, he has usually excelled on slow and low wickets, playing only three Tests away from home.

Sajid, on the other hand, has 22 wickets from seven Tests but last played a Test in March 2022.

Should Pakistan go in with an all-seam attack?

The Perth curator has predicted a fast, hard, bouncy wicket for the game, with ten millimetres of grass being left behind at the Optus Stadium ahead of the first Test match. If the wicket turns out as expected, Pakistan may play an all-seam attack, especially considering the spin dilemma they find themselves in.

Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hassan Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jr and Faheem can be the four quicks then, with the latter also being an effective No.8. But, barring Shaheen, the pace attack has lacked game time: Hassan last played a Test at the start of the year, while Wasim Jr and Faheem have not turned out in the format in 2023.