Pakistan recalls batsman Fawad Alam after 10 years for Sri Lanka tour

Pakistan has recalled 34-year-old middle-order batsman Fawad Alam for first time in 10 years for test series against Sri Lanka. Chief selector and head coach Misbah-ul-Haq said Saturday that left-handed batsman was selected because of his recent prolific scoring in domestic cricket. series, which is part of ICC's World Test Championship, starts at Rawalpindi next Wednesday. Karachi will host second test from Dec. 19-23.

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Fawad Alam last played a test match against New Zealand at Dunedin in 2009, eight months after a terrorist attack on Sri Lanka team bus at Lahore that shut doors of international cricket on Pakistan. Alam scored a century in his debut test against Sri Lanka in July 2009 and has scored over 12,222 runs in a 16-year first-class career at a healthy aver of 56.84. Fawad Alam is one of two changes Pakistan selectors have made from 16-man squad that lost two-test matches against Australia. Fawad Alam has replaced Iftikhar Ahmed while left-arm fast bowler Usman Shinwari comes in in place of young fast bowler Mohammad Musa. Misbah said Musa will remain with test squad and will continue working with bowling coach Waqar Younis.

"Our thinking is that we need consistency in team and that's reason we didn't make a lot of changes for series against Sri Lanka," Misbah said.  "re should be continuity so that players get confidence. We made changes where we feel it's necessary."

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Misbah was given three responsibilities: chief selector, head coach and batting coach when Pakistan Cricket Board removed head coach Mickey Arthur and batting coach Grant Flower after World Cup while chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq stepped down. " perspective is that it's a one-man show," Misbah said. "I think re should be a clarity on this, re are six selectors who closely watch players in domestic cricket and also do work with players on ir technique. y kw all minus and plus of se players very well and my prime job is head coach."

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Squad

Azhar Ali (captain), Abid Ali, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Fawad Alam, Haris Sohail, Imam-ul-Haq, Imran Khan, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Shan Masood, Yasir Shah, Usman Shinwari

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