Pakistan skipper Shan Masood has explained the big call behind not picking ace pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi for the New Year’s Test against Australia, slated to get underway on January 3 at SCG.

Pakistan have made two changes for the Sydney Test, with uncapped opener Saim Ayub replacing Imam-ul-Haq and off-spinner Sajid Khan coming in place of Shaheen.

Addressing the media on the eve of the third Test, Masood highlighted the importance of managing Shaeen’s workload.

The left-arm quick has bowled 99.2 overs across the four innings of the first two Tests - the most by a bowler in the ongoing series. He also spearheaded the Pakistan pace attack during the recently held ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in India.

Having been injury-prone in the past, Shaheen needs to be handled well by the team management, according to the Pakistan Test captain.

“Shaheen Afridi has bowled most overs in world cricket in recent times. He gives his 150% in the training sessions as well. He keeps motivating his teammates. He is our main player. We’ll make sure we look after Shaheen Afridi really well,” Masood told reporters.

While Shaheen Shah Afridi managed to claim two wickets in the opening Test in Perth, he bowled well in the Boxing Day Test match where he picked six scalps across two innings at MCG.

For the unversed, Australia have taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match Test series after defeating Pakistan in Perth and Melbourne.

Pakistan's playing XI for Sydney Test: Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood (C), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Agha Salman, Mir Hamza, Sajid Khan, Hasan Ali, Aamer Jamal