LAHORE, Jan 27: Dashing opening batsman Imran Nazir on Saturday received a surprise call from national selectors who named five changes in the Pakistan team for the five-match One-day Internationals series against South Africa commencing from Feb 2.

All-rounder Shahid Afridi, fit-again Abdul Razzaq, lanky Shabbir Ahmed and left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman are the other players who were selected for the ODI series. The selected players will travel to South Africa on Monday morning by a direct flight from Karachi.

They will be replacing Faisal Iqbal, Asim Kamal, Danish Kaneria and Shahid Nazir from the existing squad while one more player will return home at the conclusion of the final Test against South Africa being played at Cape Town. Opener Imran Farhat or wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal are likely to be that fifth player.

Imran, who last played a one-dayer against Bangladesh in Asia Cup way back in 2004 at Colombo, has done reasonably well with the bat in the current domestic season without being outstanding.

In the recently concluded Patron's Trophy tournament, he scored at an average of 40.20 in three matches and while in the on-going Quaid-i-Azam Trophy, he has so far scored at an average of 34.83.

In the last Twenty-20 Cup held at Karachi in December, Imran scored 131 runs in four matches with 79 being his highest as he finished with an average of 43.66.In all, Imran has played 61 ODIs, scoring 1392 runs at an average of 23.59. When contacted chief selector Wasim Bari told Dawn that though selectors also considered in-form Salman Butt for the ODIS, Imran Nazir was given a chance for his good performances in the local competitions.

"This is the best time to test Imran Nazir’s abilities before the World Cup (March-April) because he is doing well at the domestic level," Bari, a former Test wicketkeeper said.

"I gave Imran Nazir a chance in the last Super Sixes and he has shown considerable improvement since. Therefore, he deserves a chance this time," Bari said.

Asked what impressed him to select lanky medium-pacer Shabbir Ahmad, who will be appearing at international level after almost 13 months due to the one-year ban from ICC, Bari said: "We are aware of his lay-off period too but it is also the last and only opportunity for us to test Shabbir Ahmad before the all-important World Cup."

"Yes, Shabbir did not play any domestic cricket recently but as he was declared fit by physiotherapist Grant Compton, he found a place in the squad," the chief selector said.

It will be the first time that Shabbir will be bowling with his remodelled bowling action at the international level since 2005 when the ICC imposed a one-year ban on him for his suspect bowling action. "I am happy over my selection for which I passed a fitness test. I will try my best to give my best in the ODIs," Shabbir told Dawn. "The remodeled action is ok as I have managed to get control on it now," he said.

Bari was also optimistic about all-rounder Abdul Razzaq making a fine comeback after he missed out the three-Test series due to a calf injury. "Compton (physio) has also cleared Abdul Razzaq for the selection after confirming his match-fitness and he should do well in the series.”

Commenting on his fitness for the five-match ODI contest, Razzaq said: “The match against Quetta helped me a lot to confirm my match-fitness with the selectors as I remained in the field for three days without any fitness problem.”

Shahid Afridi, the dashing Karachi all-rounder who has also had a poor run at the domestic level, has also marginally made the squad, mainly due to his previous reputation in the shorter-version of the game.

Squad: