KARACHI (Reuters)
Pakistan's forgotten opener Shadab Kabir has been recalled for the New Year cricket tour of Bangladesh.

Kabir, 24, who last played for Pakistan in the 1997-98 season, was the only surprise in the 16-member Pakistan squad.

Pakistan, led by Waqar Younis, will play two Tests and three one-day games on its first official Test tour of Bangladesh, starting January 3.

Chief selector Wasim Bari told Reuters that the left-handed Kabir had been recalled because he was in terrific form.

He scored nearly 700 runs in the recent Patrons Trophy competition, a wake-up call for the selectors who have also included fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar.

"We want to groom a pair of dependable openers for Pakistan for the future, Kabir and Taufiq Umar certainly are good prospects," said Bari.

The controversial Akhtar, currently playing club cricket in Australia, has been included despite missing the first phase of camp training in Lahore.

Akhtar, who was reported for second time this year for a suspect action by match officials in Sharjah, is expected back just few days before the team leaves for Dhaka.

Pakistan Waqar Younis (captain), Inzamam-ul-Haq, Saeed Anwar, Taufiq Umar, Faisal Iqbal, Yousuf Youhana, Naveed Latif, Younis Khan, Rashid Latif, Saqlain Mushtaq, Danish Kaneria, Wasim Akram, Mohammad Sami, Abdur Razzaq, Shoaib Akhtar, Shadab Kabir

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