The Pakistan selectors have named five uncapped players in their 15-man squad for the first Test against Sri Lanka, which starts in Karachi on Saturday.

The Pakistan selectors have named five uncapped players in their 15-man squad for the first Test against Sri Lanka, which starts in Karachi on Saturday. The new faces are opening batsmen Khurram Manzoor and Ahmed Shahzad, all-rounder Fawad Alam and quick bowlers Mohammad Talha and Sohail Khan.

All were members of the initial 22-man squad named for a training camp, with the exception of 17-year-old Shahzad. He earned his place by scoring 146 against Sri Lanka for a Patron's XI.  "I believe that if a youngster performs well he should be given a chance and that's the main reason we selected Shahzad," said chief selector Abdul Qadir. "We are facing problems in the opening slots and both new openers are good prospects for Pakistan."

The squad also includes 32-year-old Asim Kamal who last played the last of his 12 Tests against England in December 2005. Kamal's recall comes after key batsman Mohammad Yousuf was banned from playing for his country by the Pakistan Cricket Board after joining the unsanctioned Indian Cricket League.

Big names not included are all-rounder Shahid Afridi and pace bowler Sohail Tanvir although the selection of Faisal Iqbal will once again raise some eyebrows for a game which will be Pakistan's first Test since December 2007."The captain is the general of the team, who has to lead the side in the field, so it's a good thing that he should select his own playing XI," he added.

Paceman Shoaib Akhtar has been ruled out of the two-match series because of injury. He was handed a central contract by the PCB last month, but was unimpressive in the one-day series against Sri Lanka and was advised to undergo knee surgery.

 

Pakistan squad: Younus Khan (capt), Salman Butt, Khurram Manzoor, Ahmed Shahzad, Shoaib Malik, Misbah-ul-Haq, Faisal Iqbal, Asim Kamal, Fawad Alam, Yasir Arafat, Danish Kaneria, Kamran Akmal (wk), Umar Gul, Mohammad Talha, Sohail Khan.