Pakistan recall pace-bowler Sohail Khan for England tour

PCB name 29-man squad for the three Test and three T20 tour that also includes uncapped batsman Haider

Pakistan's Sohail Khan bowls during day two of the second cricket Test match between New Zealand and Pakistan at Seddon Park in Hamilton on November 26, 2016. (Photo by MICHAEL BRADLEY / AFP)
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PAKISTAN SQUAD

Abid Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood, Azhar Ali (test captain), Babar Azam (T20 captain), Asad Shafiq, Fawad Alam, Haider Ali, Iftikhar Ahmad, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper), Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Imran Khan, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Sohail Khan, Usman Shinwari, Wahab Riaz, Imad Wasim, Kashif Bhatti, Shadab Khan and Yasir Shah. 

Pakistan recalled pace-bowler Sohail Khan and included uncapped batsman Haider Ali in their 29-member squad for the upcoming tour of England.

The team is scheduled to play three Tests and as many Twenty20 Internationals in August-September in a bio-secure environment due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sending a combined squad was in accordance with the standard operating procedure for the series, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement.

The selectors have also put Bilal Asif, Imran Butt, Musa Khan and Mohammad Nawaz on standby to cover for any player who fails pre-tour Covid-19 testing scheduled later this month.

"The series against England will be challenging as our players have not played any competitive cricket since March, while the home team will come following a series against the West Indies," head coach and chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq said.

Sohail, 36, has not played Test cricket since the 2016 Boxing Day match in Melbourne but has been rewarded for his strong form in domestic cricket.

"Sohail Khan has been recalled to further strengthen our fast bowling department," Misbah said. "The selectors also felt he bowled much better in the 2019-20 domestic season than his figures reflected."

Haider has also been in impressive form in domestic and under-19 cricket to claim an emerging players' contract for the 2020-21 season.

Fast bowler Mohammad Amir and batsman Haris Sohail pulled out of the tour on Thursday citing personal reasons.

Pakistan will play Tests in Manchester (August 5-9) and Southampton (August 13-17 and 21-25). The three Twenty20 internationals will all be played in Southampton on August 28, 30 and September 1.

Pakistan's Haider Ali plays a shot during the semi-final of the ICC Under-19 cricket World Cup between India and Pakistan at the Senwes Park in Potchefstroom on February 4, 2020. (Photo by Wikus DE WET / AFP)
Pakistan's Haider Ali - pictured during the ICC Under-19 cricket World Cup in February - has been called up for the senior squad for the tour of England. AFP
PAKISTAN SQUAD

Abid Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood, Azhar Ali (test captain), Babar Azam (T20 captain), Asad Shafiq, Fawad Alam, Haider Ali, Iftikhar Ahmad, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper), Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Imran Khan, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Sohail Khan, Usman Shinwari, Wahab Riaz, Imad Wasim, Kashif Bhatti, Shadab Khan and Yasir Shah.