KARACHI, Oct 21: Pakistan selectors recalled Aamir Sohail and strengthened their pace attack by including Shahid Nazir for the third and decisive Test against South Africa starting at Faisalabad from Friday.
The 13-member team was finalised on Tuesday afternoon by the selectors. The consent of Saeed Anwar and Haroon Rasheed was also given due consideration.
The team announced through a press release is:
Saeed Anwar (captain), Ali Naqvi, Aamir Sohail, Ijaz Ahmad, Inzamamul Haq, Mohammad Wasim, Moin Khan, Azhar Mahmood, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shahid Nazir, Saqlain Mushtaq and Mushtaq Ahmad.
The selectors made two changes from the side that played the ill-fated Sheikhupura Test where only 130 odd overs could have played.
Sohail, 31, was tipped to reclaim his place in the Test side after he scored 128 last week against South Africa at Peshawar. Nevertheless, he was omitted from the second Test side.
Sohail last played a Test for Pakistan exactly 12 months ago against Zimbabwe at Faisalabad where Wasim Akram recorded his last 10-wicket haul.
Sohail, after being left out from the series against New Zealand, was included in the Pakistan team for Australia's World Series Cup.
Sohail made his last return to the national team for the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka where he scored 6 and 0. He was consequently dropped from the Sahara Cup and then the home series against India.
``When I made my last return (in Asia Cup), I had not played cricket for the last five months. However, the situation is different this time and I am hoping to justify the selectors decision,'' said an elated Sohail.
Sohail has played 34 Tests for Pakistan in which he has scored 2,103 runs at an average 35 with two centuries and 13 half centuries.
``The innings against South Africa (at Peshawar) gave me great confidence. The feet movement is there and the ball is coming onto the bat,'' added Sohail.
The selection of Shahid Nazir, however, is a debatable one in the background that Aqib Javed captured 10 wickets in the Patron's Trophy opener while Nazir could get only six wickets in the match. Besides, Javed's last six Tests have yielded him 29 wickets while Nazir could get only three wickets in Sri Lanka in April.
Nevertheless, the inclusion of Shahid Nazir is a clear indication that Pakistan will be preparing a hard and bouncy track in an effort to get a result out of it. The opener at Rawalpindi was a dull draw with only two-and-a-half innings being completed while at Sheikhupura it was all rain.
Pakistan coach Haroon Rasheed said he was expecting a more sporting wicket at Faisalabad.
``It should be a lively wicket and I am hoping that it will assist the pacers. That is precisely why we have included Shahid Nazir,'' Haroon said from Lahore.
``We also wanted some experience in the middle-order so we decided to bring back Aamir Sohail. Besides, he is also a useful left-arm spinner which will give the captain more bowling options if the combination of the team is three pacers and a spinner,'' Haroon added.