LAHORE, Feb 20: The national selectors kept faith with the majority of the players who were part of the successful Pakistan squads which toured India in December/January while recalling experienced all-rounder Shahid Afridi on Wednesday for the upcoming One-day International series against South Africa.

Afridi, who turns 33 on March 1, was overlooked for the three-match ODI series in India that Misbah-ul-Haq’s men won 2-1 following a string of poor performances for a major part of 2012. The former Pakistan skipper has been included in the 16-man one-day squad for the five-match series in South Africa starting from March 10 in Bloemfontein.

Afridi played in the preceding two-match Tweny20 International series in India which ended 1-1. He has not played competitive cricket since the tour of India.

Commenting on the inclusion of Afridi in the one-day squad, chief selector Iqbal Qasim admitted that the temperamental player has been given one last opportunity to prove his worth.

“He [Shahid Afridi] should consider this is a final chance to hit form for the country in limited overs’ cricket,” Iqbal, a former Test spinner, remarked at a news conference here on Wednesday. “In the last 18 months, it is Afridi’s leg-spin bowling that has kept his international career going and has been the one reason behind his selection.”

Iqbal further said in one-day cricket, variety in bowling is an essential ingredient for success.

“Pakistan are going to play five one-day matches and you need variety in the bowling department,” Iqbal said.

“Our main requirement was to provide [frontline spinner] Saeed Ajmal with a back-up but I’m not asking to put him [Afridi] in the playing XI.

“The South Africans are extremely good against fast bowlers. But we have seen if you have variety in spinning department, it benefits the team.”

The chief selector hoped that the squads selected would do a good job in the coming series.

“Pakistan’s recent one-day showings are good as they have beaten India in India,” Iqbal said. “I hope they improve their performance from the Test series [which they currently trail 2-0].”

Paceman Sohail Tanvir is the only omission in the Twenty20 squad which toured India, being replaced by fellow left-armer Wahab Riaz.

Akmal brothers — Kamran and Umar — make a return to both squads on the back of some good performances in the ongoing Quaid-i-Azam Trophy with wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed making way for the former. Shoaib Malik also returns to both teams.

“Sarfraz should have no complaints as he has been given a fair chance in the Test series,” Iqbal said.

Also returning to the one-day fold is the slow left-armer Abdur Rehman, currently in South Africa with the Test party. The spinner missed the India tour because he was serving a 12-week ban after testing positive for cannabis while playing for English county Somerset last August.

But Rehman didn’t find a place in the 15-man Twenty20 squad with the uncapped Zulfiqar Babar retaining his spot after touring India.

The Twenty20 side also includes left-handed batsman Umar Amin and paceman Asad Ali — both of whom toured India but didn’t play — as well as explosive opener Ahmed Shehzad.

Asad Shafiq, one of the few batting successes for Pakistan during the current Test series against South Africa, has also been named in the one-day squad after being forced out of the India tour with a finger injury.

Squads: Twenty20: Mohammad Hafeez (captain), Nasir Jamshed, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz, Umar Gul, Ahmed Shehzad, Umar Amin, Zulfiqar Babar, Asad Ali, Junaid Khan.

ODI: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Nasir Jamshed, Asad Shafiq, Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Irfan, Junaid Khan, Wahab Riaz, Umar Gul, Imran Farhat, Abdur Rehman.

Schedule: March 1: First Twenty20 International (Durban, D/N). March 3: Second Twenty20 International (Centurion). March 10: First One-day International (Bloemfontein). March 15: Second One-day International (Centurion, D/N). March 17: Third One-day International (Johannesburg). March 21: Fourth One-day International (Durban). March 24: Fifth One-day International (Benoni).