KARACHI, Sept 28: There were no major surprises in the 15-man squad announced on Friday for the opening Test of the two-match series against South Africa, with Pakistan’s premier batsman Mohammad Yousuf virtually selecting himself.

Yousuf on Thursday confirmed his availability for Pakistan by reversing his earlier decision to join the breakaway Indian Cricket League (ICL) at a press conference in Lahore where he also signed the PCB central contract.

But Salahuddin Ahmed, chairman of the three-member national selection committee, surprised everyone at the media conference by stating that former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq had declared his unavailability for the Karachi Test.

Without giving any reasons, Salahuddin said: “We spoke to Inzamam who has made himself unavailable for the first Test, but he did not give any reasons for that.”

Inzamam, 37, announced his retirement from One-day Internationals and resigned the Test and one-day captaincy after Pakistan had to face the ignominy of a first-round exit in the World Cup in the West Indies last March.

The burly Inzamam, who has since been replaced by all-rounder Shoaib Malik as the national captain, however, pledged to continue his Test career, and in a bid to prove his form and fitness, appeared in several matches for the English county side Yorkshire as a replacement for Younis Khan.

But contrary to Friday’s announcement by the chief selector, Inzamam is ineligible for Pakistan selection since he has already joined the rebel ICL. The PCB Chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf, on record, has categorically stated that any player joining the non-sanctioned Indian league will not be considered for Pakistan. And Yousuf’s case is a prime example of the PCB’s stance on the thorny issue.

Inzamam, who has scored 8813 runs in 119 Tests, requires another 20 to surpass the legendary Javed Miandad’s Pakistan tally of 8832 runs.

Commenting on selection of the Test squad, Salahuddin remarked that Yousuf’s inclusion had considerably strengthened Pakistan’s batting line-up. “A player of Yousuf’s stature adds to the team’s strength. After his record-breaking feat in 2006 when Yousuf broke the great Viv Richards’s longstanding record of most runs in a calendar year, he deserves to be restored to his rightful position in the team,” he said.

As expected the selectors have called up Misbah-ul-Haq to replace Inzamam in the middle-order batting after his excellent form in the Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa. The 33-year-old Misbah has scored 120 runs in five Tests and last appeared at the highest level in 2003 against Bangladesh at Karachi.

Faisal Iqbal and Yasir Hameed were also named in the squad that includes eight specialist batsmen, including the recalled Taufiq Umar who will vie for the opening position alongside Pakistan vice-captain Salman Butt and Mohammad Hafeez.

Salahuddin on Friday defended the inclusion of Salman, who had a below average World Twenty20. “It’s unfair to judge a player on the basis of a Twenty20 event because Test cricket is totally different. I think Salman is capable of regaining his form in the longer version of the game.

“After all, he was the outstanding batsman last month during the Twenty20 practice matches before the team left for the World Championship,” he pointed out.

Shoaib Akhtar, as expected, was not considered for selection since the maverick speedster is facing a disciplinary inquiry following the incident in South Africa when he struck Mohammad Asif with a cricket bat.

Abdul Rehman, the uncapped slow left-armer, joins Danish Kaneria as the second specialist spinner while Rao Iftikhar has been picked as the third seamer behind Mohammad Asif and Umar Gul.

The playing XI would also be picked by the selectors on the morning of the match after consulting Shoaib Malik, who is set to become the 26th Test captain of Pakistan on Monday, and new coach Geoff Lawson.

Squad: Shoaib Malik (captain), Salman Butt, Mohammad Hafeez, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul-Haq, Kamran Akmal (wicket-keeper), Umar Gul, Danish Kaneria, Mohammad Asif, Faisal Iqbal, Taufiq Umar, Yasir Hameed, Abdul Rehman, Rao Iftikhar.