Pakistan on Thursday left out struggling pace spearhead Mohammad Amir from the 17-member squad for the two-match Test series against Australia starting in United Arab Emirates next month. The 26-year-old fast bowler, who returned from a five-year ban for match-fixing in January 2016, had a wicket-less Asia Cup in which he was dropped for two matches. Pakistan crashed out of the Asia Cup after losing to Bangladesh, who meet India in the final in Dubai on Friday. Pakistan will heavily rely on its ace leg-spinner Yasir Shah who played a key role in the 2-0 win over Australia in UAE in 2014, when he took 12 wickets. Besides Yasir the squad has 19-year-old leg-spinner Shadab Khan and 33-year-old off-spinner Bilal Asif, who has yet to play a Test match but played three one-day internationals in 2015. Shadab has eight wickets in four Tests. Chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq said the team was selected keeping in mind the conditions in the UAE, where Pakistan had been forced to play its home matches since 2009. “The team has been selected keeping in mind the conditions of the UAE. Amir has been dropped on lack of form and Wahab Riaz and Mir Hamza comes in the side. “We have three spinners Yasir, Shadab and Asif who are in the squad keeping in view the UAE wickets,” said Inzamam. The first Test starts in Dubai from October 7 while the second is in Abu Dhabi from October 16. Both teams will also play three Twenty20 internationals, the squads for which will be announced later. Left-arm paceman Riaz returns to the squad after playing the last of his 26 Tests in October last year. The squad also has another fast-rising left-arm paceman Hamza who has yet to play for Pakistan. Sarfraz Ahmed will lead the side against Australia. Squad: Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Azhar Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Usman Salahuddin, Yasir Shah, Shadab Khan, Bilal Asif, Mohammad Abbas, Hasan Ali, Wahab Riaz, Faheem Ashraf, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan.<doc-sep>PAKISTAN VS AUSTRALIA IN UAE 2018 Hafeez included in Pakistan squad for Australia Tests by Ahsan Iftikhar Nagi • Published on Hafeez has been in good form and struck a double century in his last first-class game for Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited. © Getty Pakistan will be sending Mohammad Hafeez to Dubai for the two-match Test series against Australia, commencing from October 7, on "the first possible flight", the spokesperson for the country's cricket board said on Monday (October 1). Since his axing from the Asia Cup squad, the 37-year-old all-rounder returned to domestic cricket and has been putting up performances. In his most recent first-class match for Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited against Peshawar, he scored a double-century and picked up four wickets to help his side win the contest by an innings and 105 runs. Hafeez has also been in form with the ball as his off-spin has garnered him 12 wickets in three matches at an average of 15.58. "The national selection committee and team management have decided to include Hafeez for two-match Test series against Australia," the PCB spokesperson said. Hafeez's last outing in whites for Pakistan was during the four-match Test series in England in 2016. He failed to leave a mark during the series as he scored 102 runs in six innings - including two ducks - before being dropped for the last Test at The Oval. Pakistan's selection for the recently concluded Asia Cup, in which they were beaten twice by India and were knocked out by Bangladesh in the last Super 4 game, was heavily criticised. Pakistan had included only two specialist spinners and put as many as six pacers for a tournament in the UAE where wickets are slow and tend to assist spinners. The exclusion of Hafeez was the focal point of every discussion throughout the tournament. Hafeez's Test batting average goes up by 13.53 runs to 52.75 in the UAE from his overall average. But, his bowling numbers are not that impressive there. He averages 39, almost five runs more than his overall, with the ball in his hand and his strike rate also jumps up to 90.66 from 76. After the first Test in Dubai, the two teams will meet for the second game in Abu Dhabi from October 16 before playing a three-match T20I series. Squad: Sarfraz Ahmed (c), Azhar Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Usman Salahuddin, Yasir Shah, Shadab Khan, Bilal Asif, Mohammad Abbas , Hasan Ali, Wahab Riaz, Faheem Ashraf, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Hafeez © Cricbuzz TAGS RELATED STORIES<doc-sep>Australia gain batting practice after Nathan Lyon's eight wickets haul | Photo Credit: AP Dubai: Spinner Nathan Lyon finished with eight wickets as Australia's top order gained some valuable batting practice for next month's two-match Test series against Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday. At the close on day two of their four-day side game against Pakistan 'A', Australia were 207-2 at the ICC academy ground, trailing their rivals by 71 runs with eight wickets intact. Earlier, Pakistan 'A' were dismissed for 278 after resuming at 247-6, with Lyon taking 8-103 in a marathon 39.1 overs. Australian opener Aaron Finch (54), Shaun Marsh (54 not out), Mitchell Marsh (53 not out) and Usman Khawaja (36) were all in the runs -- a good sign ahead of the first Test starting in Dubai on October 7. The second Test is in Abu Dhabi from October 16. The Marsh brothers added 103 runs for the unbroken third wicket stand after Finch and Khawaj put on 82 for the first. Pakistan 'A' Test hopefuls Wahab Riaz and Rahat Ali failed to get a wicket. Paceman Waqas Maqsood and part-time spinner Iftikhar Ahmed grabbed a wicket each. The day was marred by a head injury to Australian opener Matthew Renshaw, hit on the helmet by batsman Abid Ali's ferocious strike while fielding at short-leg. Renshaw was substituted out of the tour match and the Australian management said he was being monitored by medical staff. But to Australia's advantage, the shot ricocheted and was caught by wicketkeeper Tim Paine. Abid, 83 overnight, scored 85. Lyon was happy at his form early on the tour. "I'm definitely confident, the ball is coming out of my hand beautifully at the moment," said Lyon, who had a miserable last tour to the United Arab Emirates in 2014, taking just three wickets in Australia's 2-0 defeat in Tests. Abbreviated Scores: Australia 207-2 (Aaron Finch 54, Shaun Marsh 54 not out, Mitchell Marsh 53 not out, Usman Khawaja 36) Pakistan 'A' 278 (Abid Ali 85, Sami Aslam 51; Nathan Lyon 8-103)<doc-sep>
With Pakistan's batting failures in the Asia Cup as a backdrop, the country's national selection committee on Monday included former opener Mohammad Hafeez in the Test squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against Australia. The 37-year-old, who was originally not picked in the 17-member squad, has been brought into the team to reinforce the batting department. "The national selection committee and the team management has decided to include Hafeez for the two Tests against Australia," said the Pakistan Cricket Board in a statement. Pakistan had a poor outing in the Asia Cup where they failed to qualify for the final. They suffered losses at the hands of arch-rival India and Bangladesh as the batting department failed to fire in the crucial games. Considering the poor form of the top order, the squad reached out to Hafeez. Pakistan had previously nursed high hopes for Shan Masood in the ongoing four-day match for Pakistan 'A' against Australia in Dubai but he fell for just 14, forcing the selectors to include Hafeez. Hafeez last represented Pakistan against England in Birmingham in August 2016. Hafeez has played 50 Tests in which he has scored 3,452 runs at an average 39.22 with nine centuries to his name. Last week he scored a double-hundred in a domestic first-class match, catching the eye of selectors. Promoted Revised Test squad: Sarfraz Ahmed (capt), Azhar Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Hafeez, Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Usman Salahuddin, Yasir Shah, Shadab Khan, Bilal Asif, Mohammad Abbas, Hasan Ali, Wahab Riaz, Faheem Ashraf, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan. (With AFP inputs)