Pakistan stick with Saqlain

Saqlain's experience could prove valuable for Pakistan

Spinner Saqlain Mushtaq has kept his place in the Pakistan squad for the Test series against India.

Saqlain, who has taken 207 Test wickets, was chosen for the one-day internationals but did not play a single match as India won 3-2.

The selectors have shaken up the squad with Shahid Afridi, Naved-ul-Hasan and Younis Khan all left out.

They are replaced by batsmen Asim Kamal and Misbah-ul-Haq, leg-spinner Danish Kaneria and seamer Umar Gul.

"The wickets for one-dayers and nowadays tailor-made for batsmen, but I think we will play on different tracks in the Test matches and they will help bowlers.

"If Saqlain fits in the team's combination, he will definitely play," said captain Inzamam-ul-Haq.

"They [India] must be in high spirits, but we didn't play badly in the one-day games and our players are confident to do well in the five-day games."

The Test series begins in Multan, Inzamam's home town, on Sunday. The second and third Tests will be played in Lahore and Rawalpindi.

India have never won a Test on Pakistan soil.

All all four matches were drawn on their last tour in 1989 when star batsman Sachin Tendulkar made his debut as a 16-year-old.

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Pakistan Test squad: Inzamam-ul-Haq (captain), Imran Farhat, Taufeeq Umar, Yasir Hameed, Yousuf Youhana, Abdul Razzaq, Moin Khan, Shoaib Malik, Asim Kamal, Misbah-ul-Haq, Danish Kaneria, Saqlain Mushtaq, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami, Shabbir Ahmed, Umar Gul.