HYDERABAD, Jan 24 Pakistan have brought in rookie paceman Sohail Khan for next weeks third one-day international against Zimbabwe, selectors announced Thursday.

The 23-year-old took 65 wickets in nine first-class matches in last years domestic season to earn a place in the national side.

“We have made two changes for the third one-day international, bringing in Sohail in place of Samiullah Niazi, and since Sarfraz Ahmed will join a wicket-keepers camp his place is taken by Khalid Latif,” said chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed.

Niazi has failed to take any wickets in the first two matches of the ongoing five-match series against Zimbabwe.

Pakistan lead the series 2-0 after beating the tourists by five wickets in the second match here on Thursday.

“Sohail is an exciting prospect and we hope that he establishes himself as we are in the process of trying some young players before the all-important series against Australia,” said Ahmed.

Pakistan are due to host Australia for three Tests and five one-day internationals in March-April this year, although security fears have put the tour in doubt.

Squad Shoaib Malik (capt), Salman Butt, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul Haq, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal, Yasir Arafat, Sohail Tanvir, Khalid Latif, Nasir Jamshed, Fawad Alam, Rao Iftikhar, Sohail Khan, Kamran Hussain.

Our correspondent adds Chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed, while announcing the squad said “Sohail was our priority from day one but since he was experiencing some kind of a problem in his throwing arm, he could not be inducted in the matches played so far. There are no other changes in the 15-man squad otherwise,” he added while strongly denying rumours about any rift between the selectors and the coach. However, he did admit that differences of opinion over the selection of players did exist but that should not be taken as any kind of a rift.

The final selection, according to the chief selector, is announced by the selection committee but the coach and skipper give their valuable input as well. “Shoaib Malik is like my younger brother and I hold Lawson in high esteem too as he is one of the greatest fast bowlers of his time,” a smiling Sallu told the journalists.

He also defended the selection of Salman Butt who fell cheaply for a second time in two matches against Zimbabwe.

The chief selector also promised the local journalists that there would be no unfair treatment against players of Hyderabad while also making it clear that players are selected on merit and not on a quota basis. “I consider club cricket and the associations as pillars of the game because they produce enterprising cricketers. We are also trying to test promising cricketers from every region,” he said.

Sallu, while dissociating himself from the selection of the team in India, said that the responsibility for that selection remained with the tour selection committee.