Pakistan recall Taufeeq Umar for Test series opener against Australia
Saturday 18 October 2014 18:05, UK
Pakistan have recalled experienced opener Taufeeq Umar for the first Test of the two-match series against Australia starting next week.
The 33-year-old, who played the last of his 43 Tests in Sri Lanka two years ago, is one of the four openers in the 16-man squad with fit-again Mohammad Hafeez and Ahmed Shahzad likely to get into the final eleven for the first Test starting in Dubai from October 22.
Pakistan, who announced a preliminary 19-man squad on Wednesday, are in a fix to find a suitable replacement for star spinner Saeed Ajmal who was suspended last month because of an illegal bowling action.
The 37-year-old's action was reported during the Test series in Sri Lanka in August and he remains on the sidelines as he undergoes remedial work on his biomechanics.
Pakistani selectors have named leg-spinner Yasir Shah, who is yet to play a Test, and left-armer Zulfiqar Babar who made his Test debut last year.
Also included in the team is uncapped 27-year-old paceman Imran Khan, who is a prolific wicket taker at domestic level.
Left-arm paceman Rahat Ali, Mohammad Talha and Ehsan Adil are the other fast bowlers in the squad in the absence of frontline bowlers Junaid Khan and Wahab Riaz who are nursing knee injuries.
Veteran batsman Younis Khan and Azhar Ali also joined the squad after missing out on selection for the 3-0 defeat in the one-day series.
Pakistan Squad: Misbah-ul Haq (capt), Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Taufeeq Umar, Shan Masood, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Talha, Rahat Ali, Imran Khan, Ehsan Adil, Sarfraz Ahmed, Zulfiqar Babar, Yasir Shah.
