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Umar, Arshad Khan make a comeback
Off-spinner Arshad was recalled after four years in the wilderness for Pakistan's tour of India on Saturday.
Young opener Taufeeq Umar and veteran spinner Arshad Khan were on Saturday named in a 16-member Pakistan Test squad for the high-profile series against India.
There were hardly any surprises as Pakistan cricket selectors decided to more or less retain the squad that was whitewashed 3-0 in the recent Test series against Australia.
Younis Khan was named the vice-captain in place of Yousuf Youhana while Waqar Younis was appointed as the bowling coach.
Umar, 22, last played for Pakistan against India at Rawalpindi while 34-year-old Arshad Khan's previous appearance in a Test was against England in November 2000.
Paceman Mohammad Sami and Mohammad Khalil were retained in the squad after they passed fitness tests in the morning that were conducted by coach Bob Woolmer and foreign trainers Daryl Lifson, Murray Stevenson and Grant Compton.
Sami had to return from the Australian tour because of a shin injury while Khalil was nursing a groin injury.
Earlier this week, Sami had appeared in a drawn Patron's Trophy game for National Bank of Pakistan in which he had figures of 14-7-21-2.
Imran Farhat and Mohammad Asif, who toured Australia, were dropped from the Indian tour while Shoaib Akhtar was not considered after withdrawing from the Indian tour on Friday citing an aggravated hamstring injury.
"We have basically stuck to the policy of consistency as evident from the fact that the team consists mostly of players who undertook the tour of Australia," chairman of selectors Wasim Bari said.
"It (team) is a unanimous choice of the selectors and the team management. We all know that the tour of India will be difficult but we have faith in your youngsters. I am sure they must have learnt a great deal from the Australian tour," Bari, a former Pakistan captain, said.
