Star pacer returns as Pakistan name squad for New Zealand Tests
Hasan Ali made a return to Pakistan's Test squad for the two-match home series against New Zealand that begins on December 26.
Uncapped middle-order batter Kamran Ghulam also makes it to the squad, replacing Azhar Ali, who retired after the third Test against England.
Fast bowlers Mohammad Ali and Haris Rauf are missing from the squad that took on England. While Rauf injured himself while fielding in the Rawalpindi Test, Ali was asked to participate in the ongoing Pakistan Cup.
All-rounder Faheem Ashraf also misses out after featuring in the third Test and will take part in the Pakistan Cup.
Ghulam had earlier won a call-up to the Test squad in 2021 for the Bangladesh tour after a stellar showing in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, but did not get a cap then.
In the recent Quaid-e-Azam season, Ghulam amassed 597 runs at an average of 42.64 with a hundred and five fifties.
The first Test of the series that is a part of the ICC World Test Championship is in Karachi from December 26. The second Test will also be played in Karachi from January 2 before a three-match ODI series continues at the same venue.
**Test squad:**Babar Azam (captain), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood, Zahid Mahmood