LAHORE: Veteran pace bowler Umar Gul has been selected in the unannounced Pakistan side for the proposed limited-overs series against India.

According to well-informed sources, the selection committee has inducted Umar into the national team but the squad will be announced once the BCCI gives a green signal for the series scheduled to be held from Dec 15 to Jan 4 at the neutral venues of Sri Lanka.

In case the Indo-Pak series does not take place, the right-arm fast bowler, who has got vast international experience, is most likely to be recalled for Pakistan’s away series against New Zealand starting on Jan 7.

Umar, who last participated in the limited-overs game against Bangladesh this year but failed to impress selectors, has now again emerged on the scene by taking 28 wickets for HBL in six matches of the ongoing Quaid-i-Azam Trophy with an excellent average of 14.75.

The pacer is the seventh best bowler in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy but the selectors while acknowledging his vast international experience apart from his fine performance against India have decided to prefer him to the first six best bowlers of the event.

The selectors are also likely to select fast bowler Mohammad Aamir for the series against New Zealand as his name is not included in the proposed series against India because the pacer is still undergoing rehabilitation programme.

Moreover, the pacer’s excessively flamboyant behaviour during the ongoing BPL matches has not gone down well with the PCB officials.

Published in Dawn, December 12th, 2015