Pakistan selectors on Friday recalled teenaged fast bowler Naseem Shah and seamer Mohammad Abbas for the team’s two-test series in the West Indies in August.
Both the fast bowlers were dropped after the team’s 2-0 defeat in New Zealand this year and missed the subsequent home series against South Africa and the Zimbabwe tour.
Yasir Shah’s inclusion is subject to fitness as the wrist spinner is yet to fully recover from the knee injury that sidelined him from the Zimbabwe Tests. The selectors have retained leg-spinner Zahid Mahmood along with left-arm spinner Nauman Ali and off-spinner Sajid Khan for the West Indies tour.
“He was sidelined due to a knee injury after the second test against South Africa earlier this year and was expected to reclaim complete fitness for the West Indies tour,” said chief selector Mohammad Wasim.
“It, however, has not been the case, but we remain hopeful that he will complete his rehabilitation before the departure,” he added.
Pakistan also announced their limited-overs squads, who will play three one-dayers and an equal number of Twenty20 matches in England next month before heading to the West Indies.
Uncapped Saud Shakeel has also reclaimed his spot after missing South Africa ODIs due to an injury. Salman Ali Agha, who has lost his Test spot, has been called up for ODIs.
Fakhar Zaman has retained his place in the original squad after being drafted as an additional player for Zimbabwe T20Is following a stellar performance in South Africa.
Quetta Gladiators’ Azam Khan, the 22-year-old hard-hitting batsman, is the new face in the T20I squad.
Pakistan squads
ODI: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan, Abdullah Shafique, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Haris Sohail, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper), Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Afridi and Usman Qadir
T20: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan, Arshad Iqbal, Azam Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Wasim Jr, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shaheen Afridi, Sharjeel Khan and Usman Qadir
Test: Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Abdullah Shafique, Abid Ali, Azhar Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Fawad Alam, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Imran Butt, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper), Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Afridi, Shahnawaz Dahani, Yasir Shah (subject to fitness) and Zahid Mahmood
