Pakistan fast bowler Junaid Khan will lead the Pakistan ‘A’ side in the upcoming unofficial five-match T20 series against England Lions scheduled to be played in Dubai in December.

The 25-year-old, who has an impressive 71 and 78 Test and ODI wickets respectively, last featured for Pakistan in a Test match against Sri Lanka in Colombo in June this year.

Junaid, since then has stayed in and out of the Pakistan squad, but not made it to the playing 11.

The matches are scheduled to be played on December 7, 10, 11, 13 and 16 at the ICC Cricket Academy ground, according to a media release.

Chairman PCB Shaharyar Khan approved the squad for the series at the recommendation of the selection committee headed by Haroon Rasheed.

Rasheed said the team has been selected keeping in mind the forthcoming ICC World T20, to be held in March 2016 in India.

“All the players are fully capable of acquitting themselves well in this format and have been performing well for quite some time,” he said.

He said since this would be the last opportunity before the T20 World Cup to have a look at the potential of these players to prove their mettle for the selection in the national T20 squad for the upcoming tours and the World Cup.

“The selection committee would be having a close look at the performance of each of the players during the five-match series against England Lions in the UAE,” he said.

Earlier Pakistan T20 skipper Shahid Afridi also revealed that he will be representing the Pakistan ‘A’ side in the unofficial T20 series.

“I will be featuring for the Pakistan ‘A’ side which will play England Lions. I think this series will also help us pick any new faces if needed,” said the swashbuckling all-rounder.

Pakistan ‘A’ squad: Junaid Khan (captain), Sharjeel Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Shahzeb Hasan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Sohaib Maqsood, Mohammad Nawaz, Bilal Asif, Babar Azam, Saifulah Bangash (wicketkeeper), Kashif Bhatti, Amir Yamin, Saad Nasim, , Mir Hamza, Ziaul Haq and Ruman Raees.