KARACHI: All rounder Shoaib Malik has been recalled in Pakistan's Test squad for the Test series against England, after a lapse of five years, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Tuesday.
He has been included as the 16th member of the Test squad for the upcoming series against England starting at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) on October 13 with opening Test.
Malik, who last played a Test in August 2010, was picked on the request of the team management who were keen to have him in the side based on his current batting form in limited overs and as an extra bowling option.
According to reports team manager Intikhab Alam had made the request to chief selector Haroon Rashid, stating that he and head coach Waqar Younis were in favour of Shoaib Malik being retained "given his present form in T20Is and the ODIs". Rashid's recommendation was then approved by PCB chairman Shahryar Khan.
Former Pakistan Test skipper 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 ODIs 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.
"Following 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 in statement.
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