Pakistan add Malik to Test squad

LAHORE: Pakistan have recalled all-rounder Shoaib Malik from the Test wilderness, adding him as the 16th member to their squad for the three-match series against England starting this month in the United Arab Emirates.
The 33-year-old former Pakistan captain, who last played a Test in August 2010, has been rewarded for his strong form in the limited-overs matches in Zimbabwe, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement.
“Following (team manager) Intikhab Alam’s request, I spoke with my fellow selectors and there was unanimity over retaining Malik, keeping in mind his current batting form and the off-spin bowling option that could be handy in the all-important forthcoming Test series against England,” chief selector Haroon Rashid said.
Malik has played 32 Tests for Pakistan, scoring two hundreds and eight fifties as well as taking 21 wickets.
He remained unbeaten during the last two matches of the three-ODI series in Zimbabwe with a top score of 96 not out. He also took four wickets.
Malik made a comeback to the international side in the home series against Zimbabwe in May, after a gap of two years, and struck an ODI hundred in Lahore. In 11 ODI innings this year, Malik has scored 500 runs with a century and three fifties at an average of 100, while his run tally in T20 internationals stands at 118 from six matches. Malik’s most recent fifty was an unbeaten knock of 96 in the second ODI against Zimbabwe in Harare, which ended in a five-run defeat for Pakistan due to bad light.
The three-Test series against England kicks off with the first match in Abu Dhabi from October 13. The second and third Tests will be played in Dubai and Sharjah from October 22 and November 1, respectively.