Pakistan bring Alam back for England series

Pakistan have brought Fawad Alam in from the cold for their three-Test series against England in the United Arab Emirates, starting next month.

Alam, a left-arm spinning all-rounder, last played a five-day match for his country in New Zealand in 2009.

Pakistan's selectors, who have also named two limited-overs squads to travel to Zimbabwe, have left one place open.

They intend to add one of two left-arm spinners - Zafar Gohar and Mohammad Ashgar - to complete a squad of 16, depending on which one impresses most in the two warm-up matches in Sharjah.

Fawad Alam, who last played for Pakistan in a Test in New Zealand in 2009, is back in the squad for the series against England

Chief selector Haroon Rashid told the Pakistan Cricket Board website: “In the light of Misbah-ul-Haq recommendations, we have kept the options open for the 16^th player in the Test squad against England, picking up two left-arm spin bowlers namely Zafar Gohar and Mohammad Asghar for the brace of practice games against England prior to the Test matches in the UAE; whoever amongst the two performs well would be added to the Test squad.”

Mohammad Amir, available again to play for Pakistan after serving his ban for spot-fixing but featuring in just nine Twenty20 matches so far this year, was not included.

Pakistan Test squad: Ahmed Shehzad, Shan Masood, Azhar Ali, Mohammad Hafeez, Fawad Alam, Asad Shafiq, Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Younis Khan, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Yasir Shah, Zulfiqar Babar, Wahab Riaz, Imran Khan, Rahat Ali, Junaid Khan.