LAHORE, June 2: While rookies Nasir Jamshed, Fawad Alam, Wahab Riaz, Naumanullah and Bazid Khan were named in a 16-member Pakistan squad on Monday for the Dhaka limited-overs tri-nation series, pace spearhead Mohammad Asif’s return came as a ray of hope for the team.

While Shoaib Malik and Misbah-ul-Haq were retained as captain and vice-captain respectively, five players were also picked as reserves.

Besides Pakistan and hosts Bangladesh, India are the third team in a short June 8-14 competition, to be held on a single-league basis.

The national selection committee, headed by Salahuddin Ahmed, met here in Lahore on Monday and after taking Shoaib Malik’s input, announced the team.

Coach Geoff Lawson, who was scheduled to arrive here from Australia in the wee hours of Monday after passing his holidays, could not reach. He will now come on Tuesday.

“We wanted to announce a 15-member squad but after a discussion we realised to give another chance to seasoned domestic batsman Naumanullah, who in his career’s lone One-day International against Bangladesh was sent at number eight. Therefore, he deserves a chance and so the team was extended to 16,” Salahuddin told Dawn.

The chief selector also explained the Bazid’s case.

“As Bazid Khan was not included in the last ODI of the Bangladesh series despite scoring 51 in the fourth ODI in Multan, he was also included in the squad,” Salahuddin stated. “The hosts have allowed a 16-member team; and most of our players have been playing cricket since April 8 [Bangladesh series followed by IPL] therefore in case of injuries there will be no replacement problem,” he said.

Left-handed opener Nasir Jamshed, who had an impressive debut against lowly Zimbabweans earlier this year, will face tough test against tougher opponents like Sri Lanka and India while Fawad will also need to show his mettle.

A major development came in the form of Asif — Pakistan’s pace spearhead — who was also picked to feature in a Pakistan assignment after concluding his IPL stint for Delhi Daredevils on Friday.

Asif came back after an elbow injury for a brief stint for Pakistan recently when he played fourth and fifth ODIs against Bangladesh in April.

The paceman, who played his last Test against South Africa last October in Karachi and then missed the entire tour of India due to an elbow injury, will be rehearsing in Dhaka for the Asia Cup, the more significant event round the corner.

Four other pace bowlers — Umar Gul, Sohail Tanvir, Rao Iftikhar and Wahab Riaz — have also been named in the squad.

While Umar and Sohail have featured in the recently concluded IPL, Rao and youngster Wahab will be under the spotlight for different reasons.

While the short tri-series can be a test for left-arm medium pacer Wahab, who made his ODI debut against Zimbabwe in the February ODI series, Rao, will look to carry on his job after achieving the 50-wickets mark in his 44th one-dayer against Bangladesh in April.

The spin department will be managed by Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi and Fawad Alam.

Leg-spinner Mansoor Amjad, who played only one ODI in the Bangladesh series, Abdul Rehman, Sarfraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper), Sohail Khan and Khalid Latif were picked as reserves.

The batting line-up comprises Mohammad Yousuf, Younis Khan, Salman Butt and upcoming Nasir, besides Shoaib Malik and Afridi.

Despite Wahab and Rao’s ordinary performances in the last series against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, they were included in the squad while Abdul Rauf and Kamran Hussain were overlooked.

“We will consider all players and cricketers like Rauf, Kamran, Khurram Manzoor, Khalid Latif and others are our back-up. We will keep an eye on the performance of the players in the Bangladesh series which will be considered for the team selection for the Asia Cup,” he stated.

For the Dhaka tri-series, a training camp is likely to be held in Karachi on Wednesday and Thursday, before the team leaves for Bangladesh on Friday.

Squad: Shoaib Malik (captain), Misbah-ul-Haq (vice-captain), Salman Butt, Nasir Jamshed, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Asif, Umar Gul, Sohail Tanvir, Rao Iftikhar, Wahab Riaz, Fawad Alam, Bazid Khan, Naumanullah.

Reserves: Sarfraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper), Sohail Khan, Mansoor Amjad, Khalid Latif, Abdul Rehman.