Pakistan announce Test squad to take on England

With a three-match Test series against England on the horizon, Pakistan have announced an initial 15-man squad for the clashes in the United Arab Emirates.

Pakistan whitewashed England 3-0 in the UAE three years ago, and they will be aiming for further success when the first Test gets underway in Abu Dhabi on October 13.

There is no place for England's tormentor-in-chief on that tour Saeed Ajmal, however, with the spinner continuing to be overlooked despite having his action remodelled.

But Mohammad Hafeez, banned from bowling in international cricket due to an illegal action, earns a place.

One notable inclusion sees batsman Fawad Alam return after a six-year hiatus, his last Test coming against New Zealand in Dunedin back in November 2009.

Pakistan 'A' will face England in two warm-up matches prior to the Test series, and the games will offer the opportunity for one player to join the senior squad thereafter.

"In the light of Misbah-ul-Haq's recommendations, we have kept the options open for the 16th player in the Test squad against England, picking 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," said chief selector Haroon Rashid.

"Whoever amongst the two performs well would be added to the Test squad."

Before the series with England, Pakistan travel to Zimbabwe for two Twenty20 matches and three one-day internationals, with those squads also confirmed on Wednesday.

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

ODI squad to face Zimbabwe: Azhar Ali (capt), Sarfraz Ahmed, Anwar Ali, Rahat Ali, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Irfan, Shoaib Malik, Sohaib Maqsood, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Yasir Shah, Asad Shafiq, Ahmed Shehzad, Imad Wasim

T20 squad to face Zimbabwe: Shahid Afridi (capt), Mukhtar Ahmed, Umar Akmal, Bilal Asif, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Irfan, Imran Khan, Shoaib Malik, Sohaib Maqsood, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Ahmed Shehzad, Sohail Tanvir, Imad Wasim, Amir Yamin