LAHORE, Feb 19: Pakistan have recalled veteran off-spinner Arshad Khan in the 16-man squad with Younis Khan replacing Yousuf Youhana as Inzamaul Haq's deputy for the forthcoming three-Test series against India.

The selectors have also named three reserve players. There are no real surprises except the selectors have selected only one specialist keeper Kamran Akmal. Arshad, who had played eight Test and had picked up 30 wickets at 28.40 made the comeback after almost four years in wilderness.

The 34-year-old, who played the last of his eight Tests against England at Faisalabad in 2000, will bolster a Pakistan attack already depleted by the loss of injured fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar, Shabbir Ahmed and Umer Gul.

"Arshad was selected for his performance in domestic season and he is also the requirement of the team for the Indian tour and he will make our spin department strong with Danish Kaneria," Wasim Bari, the chief selector commented on his selection.

"If India go for spin wicket then we will have a good variety of spinners in Danish, Arshad, Shoaib Malik and Shahid Afridi," he said. "We are missing Shoaib Akhtar, but I do hope Sami and Rana Naved will deliver and the inclusion of left-arm bowler Khalil creates variety in the bowling," the chief selector said.

Asked if Arshad got selection on domestic performance why the pace man Shahid Nazir, who finished as top at domestic level, was not given a chance, Bari said that the seamer would be considered for "A" team.

The selectors considered Kamran Akmal as lone wicket keeper, ending rumours about the possible comeback of Rashid Latif or Moin Khan. Bari claimed that it was a well balanced team and had the potential to give tough fight to India.

The 16-man Test squad has three openers, five specialist middle-order batsmen, two all-rounders in Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq, two spinners and three frontline fast bowlers.

The chief selector said that though the decision of appointing Younis as deputy of Inzamam in place of Youhana was of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) but he would like to say that the new man was a fighter, hard worker and a bold batsman.

He batted well at one-down position in Australia, he said. PCB chairman Shaharyar M Khan said that Younis was appointed after taking his predecessor into confidence.

TEAM: Inzamamul Haq (captain), Younis Khan (vice-captain), Yousuf Youhana, Abdul Razzaq, Shahid Khan Afridi, Taufiq Umar, Yasir Hameed, Salman Butt, Shoaib Malik, Asim Kamal, Kamran Akmal, Muhammad Sami, Rana Navedul Hasan, Danish Kaneria, Arshad Khan, Muhammad Khalil.