LAHORE: Opening batsman Khurram Manzoor has been included in the Pakistan Test team for the two-match series against New Zealand on the upcoming tour starting on Dec 26.Though the selectors had already announced a 14-member team for the two Test matches besides naming a 15-member squad for the three Twenty20 Internationals against the Kiwis, they kept the 15th place in the Test team vacant.

“Khurram’s performance on the ongoing West Indies tour was brilliant, so the selectors decided to pick him in the [Test] team,” chief selector Mohsin Khan said.

“After the chairman selection committee’s discussion with other selectors and the Test captain [Misbah-ul-Haq] it is decided to include Khurram Manzoor as the 15th player in the national Test squad for the upcoming Pakistan v New Zealand Series,” a PCB media release said.

The first Test will be played in Hamilton from Jan 7-11 while the second will be held in Wellington from Jan 15-19. Besides Tests and Twenty20 matches, a six-match ODI series is also on the schedule.