LAHORE, March 25: Pakistan recalled Asim Kamal, Misbahul Haq, Umar Gul and Danish Kaneria in the squad named on Thursday for the first Test, starting in Multan from Sunday.
The 16-man party, which was finalised by the national selection committee, headed by Wasim Bari, showed three changes from the 15-man one-day squad for the final game on Wednesday. Out go batsman Younis Khan and all-rounders Shahid Afridi and Rana Naveed-ul-Hasan.
The left-handed Asim, who made 99 on his Test debut against SouthAfrica at Lahore last October, toured New Zealand with Inzamamul Haq's team recently. Misbah was named in the ODI squad for the first two matches against India, but did not play.
The inclusion of leg-spinner Kaneria was widely expected while paceman Umar Gul also makes a comeback after being overlooked for the one-dayers against the Indians.
Afridi, who made 80 in the second One-day International at Rawalpindi, failed the subsequent two games. But Younis Khan's omission is rather surprising since he is generally considered as a Test player. The right-hander played all in the five matches of the one-day series and scored 140.
Kaneria's inclusion will strengthen the spin bowling department which also has the services of off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq, who did not play a single game in the one-day series and off-spinning all-rounder Shoaib Malik.
Taufiq Umar, who was called midway through one-day series but only played in the final match, will open with fellow left-hander Imran Farhat in the Multan Test. Imran, who could not impress in the first one-dayer atKarachi and was not considered for remainder of the series is fortunate to retain his spot.
Yousuf Youhana, the Pakistan vice-captain, failed to impress in the one-day series after making 73 at Karachi. But he has been included because of his experience.
Squad: Taufiq Umar, Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed, Inzamamul Haq (captain), Yousuf Youhana, Asim Kamal, Misbahul Haq, MoinKhan (wicket-keeper), Abdul Razzaq, Danish Kaneria, SaqlainMushtaq, Shoaib Malik, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami, ShabbirAhmed, Umar Gul.
