Karachi — England will not have to face its 2012 tormentor Saeed Ajmal in next month's three-Test series against Pakistan, after the off-spinner was left out of the 15-man squad announced Wednesday. Ajmal, who turns 38 next month, has faced a tough time since returning to cricket from a five-month suspension after his bowling action was found to be illegal by the International Cricket Council last year. Since making his comeback with a remodeled action against Bangladesh in April, he has shown little of the form that brought him 24 wickets during Pakistan's 3-0 whitewash over then-world No. 1 Test team England in the United Arab Emirates three years ago. He has also performed poorly for English county side Worcestershire, his 16 wickets this season coming at almost 56 apiece. Fast-rising leg-spinner Yasir Shah and left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar have filled the void in the national team. The duo were instrumental in Pakistan's 2-0 win over Australia last year and 2-1 triumph in Sri Lanka this year. Chief selector Haroon Rasheed said Shah and Babar's form more than made up for the loss of Ajmal. “Presently, Shah and Babar are bowling outstandingly,” Rasheed said. “Ajmal has not been bowling as well with a remodeled action and I am sure both Babar and Shah will to a great extent fulfill the requirement.” Head coach Waqar Younis said the veteran off-spinner faced a tough choice. “It's a great challenge for Ajmal to overcome the lack of bite in his new action and he has to decide about his future,” Waqar said last week. “His recent bowling figures were not encouraging.” All-rounder Fawad Alam, meanwhile, could end his five-year absence from Test cricket after being named in the squad for the Test series, which starts in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 13. The 29-year-old scored 168 on his debut in 2009 but played only two more matches before being dropped. Alam has a strong domestic record and supporters from his home city of Karachi have consistently demanded his recall. Rasheed said they were keeping the option of adding another player to the squad, at captain Misbahul Haq's request. “We have kept the options open for the 16th player in the Test squad against England, picking two left-arm spin bowlers, Zafar Gohar and Mohammad Asghar, for the brace of practice games and whoever amongst the two performs well would be added to the Test squad,” he said. Pacemen Junaid Khan and Wahab Riaz also returned to the squad after missing part of the Sri Lanka Test series in July. Squad: Misbahul Haq (captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Shan Masood, Azhar Ali, Mohammad Hafeez, Fawad Alam, Asad Shafiq, Younis Khan, Sarfraz Ahmed, Yasir Shah, Zulfiqar Babar, Wahab Riaz, Imran Khan, Rahat Ali and Junaid Khan. Rookie paceman for Zimbabwe T20s Rookie paceman Imran Khan junior was Wednesday rewarded for his excellent bowling in Pakistani domestic cricket with a first-time inclusion in the national Twenty20 squad for the tour of Zimbabwe. The 27-year-old took 16 wickets to help Peshawar defend the National Twenty20 title in Rawalpindi Tuesday, claiming his second successive best bowler award after also winning it in 2014. “We have rewarded some outstanding performers in the recently concluded tournament and Imran was one of them,” chief selector Haroon Rasheed said. The 25-year-old uncapped pace bowling all-rounder Amir Yamin was also included for the two Twenty20 matches in Harare on Sept. 27 and 29. Shahid Afridi will lead the Twenty20 side while Azhar Ali will be the skipper for the three one-day matches on Oct. 1, 3 and 5 — all in Harare. Batsman Sohaib Maqsood returned to both squads after injuring his arm before the tour of Bangladesh. T20 squad: Shahid Afridi (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Mukhtar Ahmed, Umar Akmal, Sohaib Maqsood, Shoaib Malik, Amir Yamin, Mohammad Irfan, Bilal Asif, Wahab Riaz, Imad Wasim, Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Rizwan and Imran Khan junior. One-day squad: Azhar Ali (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Sohaib Maqsood, Shoaib Malik, Babar Azam, Sarfraz Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Immad Wasim, Anwar Ali, Wahab Riaz, Yasir Shah, Rahat Ali, Mohammad Irfan and Asad Shafiq. — Agencies
