Missing the services of two of its key pacemen, the Pakistani selection committee on Tuesday picked uncapped Samiullah Niazi to strengthen the pace attack in the first two cricket Tests against the West Indies starting later this month.
Niazi was included in a 15-member squad as a reward for his consistent performance for Pakistan 'A' in Eurasia Cup in Abu Dhabi early this year and for his departmental team WAPDA.
His call-up comes in the wake of bans imposed on pacemen Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif for failing a drug test.
"Niazi is a good prospect and has performed consistently well for the last two seasons. He will also bring variety to the attack with his left-arm swing," chief selector Wasim Bari told PTI.
The selectors also recalled prolific batsman Yasir Hameed who has not played in a Test since June last year.
Having appeared in 17 Tests and 48 one-dayers, Yasir is expected to give the team management more options while picking their opening pair although they also have allrounder Shoaib Malik who has opened before with considerable success.
The squad has two specialist spinners in Danish Kaneria and left-armer Abdul Rehman which is an indication that Brian Lara's men might get spin friendly wickets for the first two Tests in Lahore and Multan. The first Test begins on November 11.
{{/usCountry}}The squad has two specialist spinners in Danish Kaneria and left-armer Abdul Rehman which is an indication that Brian Lara's men might get spin friendly wickets for the first two Tests in Lahore and Multan. The first Test begins on November 11.
{{/usCountry}}Squad: Inzamam-ul-Haq (Capt), Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Imran Farhat, Mohammad Hafeez, Yasir Hameed, Faisal Iqbal, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Samiullah Niazi, Umar Gul, Shahid Nazir, Abdul Razzaq, Abdul Rehman and Danish Kaneria.