Amir, Shadab, Fakhar, Shan recalled as squad for South Africa Test series announced

Fast bowler Mohammad Amir, leg-spinner Shadab Khan and openers Fakhar Zaman and Shan Masood have been recalled, as the National Selection Committee headed by Inzamam-ul-Haq after consultation with captain Sarfraz Ahmed and Head Coach Mickey Arthur on Friday announced the 16-member Test squad for three Test matches against South Africa starting later this month.
Despite poor performance in the Test series against New Zealand, Sarfraz Ahmed will lead the side, which opens the tour with the first Test at Centurion from December 26. Pakistan will also play five One-day internationals and three Twenty20 internationals on the tour, for which squads will be announced later. The second Test will be played at Cape Town from Jan 3 to 7 next year, while the third and final match is in Johannesburg from Jan 11 to 15.
Interestingly, Inzamam's nephew Imam-ul-Haq gets another chance despite scoring a mere 73 runs in three Tests against New Zealand.
It may be added that Pacer Amir was dropped from the side after failing to get a single wicket in three Asia Cup matches in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in September this year. He also missed Pakistan's two-match Test series against Australia and then three Test matches series against New Zealand - both in UAE.
Apart from Amir, leg-spinner Shadab Khan and openers Fakhar Zaman and Shan Masood have also been recalled. Wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan has also returned to the squad after his consistent performance in the domestic cricket and for Pakistan 'A'.
Inzamam-ul-Haq believes that Amir has regained his form in domestic matches. "Amir makes a comeback in the team after regaining his form in domestic cricket, giving strength to a fast bowling attack that includes four pace bowlers," said Inzamam while announcing the squad.
Zaman made his Test debut against Australia before he was ruled out of the New Zealand series with a knee injury, while Shadab missed both series due to a hamstring problem. Masood, who played the most recent of his 12 Tests in Oct last year, was also brought back after recent good form, scoring twin hundreds in a four-day match against New Zealand 'A' two months ago.
Off-spinner Bilal Asif, who took five wickets in the ongoing Abu Dhabi Test against New Zealand, and Lahore opener Abid Ali, who has also been scoring heavily at the domestic level and for Pakistan 'A' failed to impress the selectors.
Squad: Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Shan Masood, Azhar Ali, Haris Sohail, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Yasir Shah, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Abbas, Hassan Ali, Mohammad Amir, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi.