Amir named in 12-man line-up for Lord's Test
LONDON: Left-arm fast bowler Mohammad Amir has been named in the 12-man Pakistan line-up for the first Test against England at Lord's, Mickey Arthur announced on Wednesday.
In an unprecedented move, the national side's newly-appointed head coach announced 12 players instead of 11, saying the playing XI will be decided before the toss, after scrutinizing the conditions.
Leg-spinner Yasir Shah is also expected to make his international return after serving a three-month doping ban.
Meanwhile, England Test captain Alastair Cook, too, announced his playing XI for the first Test.
In the absence of their most successful Test bowler with 454 wickets, James Anderson, Nottinghamshire's Jake Ball is set to make his international debut for England.
Ball will share the new ball with his county team-mate Stuart Broad.
Pakistan will play England in four Tests, five One-day Internationals, and a Twenty20 International. Pakistan are also scheduled to play two ODIs against Ireland.
Pakistan line-up: Mohammad Hafeez, Shan Masood, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Yasir Shah, Rahat Ali, Imran Khan
England line-up: Alastair Cook (capt), Alex Hales, Joe Root, James Vince, Gary Ballance, Jonny Bairstow (wkt), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad, Steven Finn, Jake Ball