Pakistan recall Farhat for first Test

Pakistan selectors have recalled opening batsman Imran Farhat for the first Test against India which starts on Friday.

The 23-year-old left-hander, who has played 15 Tests and 21 one-day internationals, was rewarded for his hard-hitting 107 for Pakistan A against India on Sunday in the tour match at Bagh-e-Jinnah in Lahore.

Farhat last played for Pakistan against Australia at Melbourne in December 2004 and was not in the preliminary squad of 18 announced by the selectors for the first Test.

"He has been picked because he has been scoring a lot of runs at the domestic level and showed his form by getting a hundred against India," a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official told Reuters.

The selectors axed Asim Kamal, the unfit Yasir Hameed, uncapped Rifatullah Mohmand and Umar Gul from the preliminary squad, retaining 15 including Farhat.

All-rounder Abdul Razzaq has also made a comeback after falling ill with typhoid, which also ruled out Yasir for the first Test.

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"Razzaq has recovered from his illness but Yasir was not considered since he is still recovering from his illness," PCB director Saleem Altaf said.

The selectors have also retained young pacer Mohammad Asif for the Test after he played in the last one-dayer against England in December.

Team: Inzamam-ul-Haq (captain), Salman Butt, Imran Farhat, Mohammad Yousuf, Younis Khan, Kamran Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Shoaib Malik, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami, Rana Naved, Mohammad Asif, Danish Kaneria, Arshad Khan