Pakistan squad to tour England in 2006

INZAMAM-UL-HAQ (captain, date of birth 3/3/70, 109 Test caps)
England grew sick of the sight of one of Test cricket’s all-time great batsmen during the 2-0 winter defeat. Passed 50 in each of his five innings and registered two of his 25 Test hundreds. Often criticised for his poor running between the wickets and lethargy in the field - he is renowned for his aversion to training - Inzamam nonetheless remains one of the most aesthetically pleasing batsmen of his generation. Equally adept against pace and spin, he is equipped with a full armoury of strokes and possesses that rare commodity - the ability to look unhurried at the crease.

SHOAIB MALIK (1/2/82, 15)
Failed to build on promising starts against England, having been elevated to role of opener, regularly succumbing to pace bowling. But struck a match-saving 148 not out in Sri Lanka earlier this year to promote his cause. Despite boasting a more than respectable average bordering on 40 prior to the tour of England, Shoaib has struggled to hold down a regular place in the Pakistan Test side. A particularly useful one-day player, he bowls accurate off-spin with a high action that has come under scrutiny in recent years; he was advised to undergo elbow surgery after being reported for throwing. Enjoyed success during two spells with Gloucestershire in 2003 and 2004.

IMRAN FARHAT (20/5/82, 18)
Has been on the international scene since 2001, having struck a debut half-century against New Zealand as an 18-year-old. Overlooked for England’s recent tour of Pakistan, the left-handed opener won his place back earlier this year after some impressive performances in domestic cricket. Formerly an attacking batsman, Farhat has since modified his game, employing more judicious shot selection to complement his natural talent. Served England notice of his threat ahead of the Test series with a stylish 81 in Pakistan’s victory over Leicestershire when 46 of his first 50 runs came in boundaries.

SALMAN BUTT (7/10/84, 12)
Criticised in the past for extravagance, the youngster displayed tremendous restraint to finish the series with England in Pakistan with 300 runs at an average of 60 courtesy of two half-centuries and a second-innings hundred in Multan which helped Pakistan to a memorable 22-run victory. Leicestershire, against whom he made 68 in a tour game, and England A - he hit 63 and 50 retired in the drawn encounter at Canterbury - will testify to Butt’s adhesive qualities. A stand of 145 for the first wicket with Imran Farhat against Leicestershire went some way to solving the debate about who will open in the Tests.

YOUNIS KHAN (29/11/77, 44)
The vice-captaincy has brought out the best in him as he has averaged 77 in his past 11 appearances. A flamboyant batsman whose natural instinct is to attack, Younis has grown increasingly aware of the need to occupy the crease and a new-found discipline has seen his career average rise to 48 ahead of the series in England. There was no better example of his growing maturity than the magnificent 267 he made in the final-Test victory over India in Banglaore last year. If any doubts remained over his temperament, they were dispelled when he hit 199, 83 and 194 in successive innings against India in March.

MOHAMMAD YOUSUF (27/8/74, 66)
Formerly Yousuf Youhana and one of the few Christians to play for Pakistan, he changed his name after converting to Islam. Another rich in runs in recent times, Yousuf followed up the double hundred which closed the door on England’s hopes of a drawn series with an astounding 461 runs in three Tests against India. Arguably the most technically correct of Pakistan’s batsmen, Yousuf is often overshadowed by the exploits of his more dazzling colleagues. However, there can be no mistaking his worth to Bob Woolmer’s side, and his will be the key wicket for England this summer.

FAISAL IQBAL (30/12/81, 13)
A fluid strokemaker with a fiery attitude, Faisal Iqbal is an exciting middle-order prospect for Pakistan. However, although he played superbly against Shane Warne in the First Test of the 2002/3 Test Series against Australia, he was unable to reproduce that form in the rest of that series or in two Tests against South Africa that year. Claims of nepotism surrounded his call-up as a teenager but the nephew of Pakistan great Javed Miandad has shown promising moments of quality, notably on his recall in January, after a three-year absence, when he hit 139 against India.

SHAHID AFRIDI (1/3/80, 24)
All-action all-rounder who is only on the full tour after reversing his decision to ‘retire’ from Tests at the age of 26. An explosion waiting to happen at the crease, he has thrived as a Test batsman since Bob Woolmer became coach and has become absolutely essential in Pakistan's revival in 2005. Introduced to the team at 16, he flashed the ball around the field to achieve the fastest one day hundred in his maiden innings. In a team not lacking in strokemaking, Afridi is the most aggressive of them all and as one of the most volatile middle-order batsmen in the world he rates a danger to any bowler.

ABDUL RAZZAQ (2/12/79, 41)
Missed the 2005 Test campaign against England through injury but helps balance the side as a fine strokemaker and handy seamer. His bowling - the reason he was first noticed - is characterised by a bounding approach, accuracy, and reverse-swing, but it is his time at the crease that marks him out as a key component. Whereas he once promised to be Pakistan's most complete all-rounder since Imran Khan, his bowling has faltered of late and he has become a more useful bowling weapon in the one-day games. Like Afridi, Razzaq has good knowledge of English conditions thanks to time spent in county cricket with Middlesex.

KAMRAN AKMAL (wicket-keeper, 13/1/82, 23)
Made his first-class debut at the age of 15 as a useful wicketkeeper and a hard-hitting opening batsman, and a string of good performances earned him a spot for Pakistan A in 2002. Used mainly as a substitue for Moin Khan or Rashid Latif, Akmal finally established himself as the premier wicket-keeper in 2004/5. Despite calls for the return of Khan or Latif, he responded with vigour and proved to be a real find for Pakistan; his 154 against England at his home ground in Lahore was the first of three in four Tests, the final one coming from a position of 39 for six on the first day of an extraordinary 341-run win over India.

MOHAMMAD ASIF (20/12/82, 5)
Fast bowler who decimated England with 10 wickets in Pakistan A’s victory at the start of last winter’s tour. He narrowly failed to add to his solitary Test appearance during the series, but made an impressive ODI debut one day after his 23rd birthday, dismissing Marcus Trescothick with his third ball; he ended with 2 for 14 off seven incisive overs. Introduced into the Pakistan Test team in a drubbing by Australia at Sydney in 2005, he has overcome the rigours of that match and has strengthened his position as an integral part of the Pakistan squad. Consistent and with the ability to move the ball sharply off the surface, he is a danger to all batsmen. Has taken 24 wickets in last three Tests and has been familiarising himself with this country at Leicestershire.

UMAR GUL (14/4/84, 7)
Young pace bowler of growing repute. Had played just a handful of first-class matches before being called up for national duty in the wake of Pakistan's poor 2003 World Cup. His finest hour came against India two years ago when he tore through a star-studded top order to earn the man-of-the-match award in a nine-wicket win in Lahore. Although he missed a whole year through a back injury, Gul returned for the 2004/5 Twenty20 cup, but didn't make the Test team that played England in 2005. May profit from Shoaib Akhtar’s absence, and although he doesn't posess Akhtar's electrifying pace, his control and ability to extract seam movement can only enhance his chances of selection.

SHAHID NAZIR (4/12/77, 8)
Made his international debut in a one-day international win over England at Trent Bridge way back in 1996. The medium-pacer has not featured in a Test for seven years but strong domestic performances earnt a him a comeback so it was no surprise when he was named by Bob Woolmer in the squad for this tour of England. The 28-year-old has a highly impressive record in First-Class cricket taking over 400 wickets at just over 20 runs apiece, a record that means that he is not a man to be underestimated. A lengthy exile from international cricket could mean that Nazir proves to be the secret weapon for Pakistan.

MOHAMMAD SAMI (24/2/81, 25)
Forced his way into the Test team with outstanding performances in domestic cricket and had an immediate impact in his first Test with five wickets against New Zealand. Amazingly achieved a hat-trick in only his third Test, and has since cemented a place in the Pakistan squad. An ability to create serious speed from a slight frame and short run-up has kept the former Kent paceman around the Test scene. Has a point to prove after being the least successful of the Pakistan attack against England last time around and at a Test average of 47, the 25-year-old will want to prove a few people wrong.

DANISH KANERIA (16/12/80, 36)
Takes Test wickets at a rate in excess of four per match and twice bowled Pakistan to victory over England with four-wicket hauls in the final innings in Multan and Lahore. Has taken over Mushtaq Ahmed’s mantle as Pakistan’s premier leg-spinner, and this tall, wiry leg-spinner will want to repeat his past successes against England. Only the second Hindu to play for Pakistan (after his cousin, wicket-keeper Anil Dalpat), Kaneria made his debut in 2000 and has established himself as a man in posession of an excellent googly and flipper, and his willingness to bowl long spells has endeared him to fans and players alike.

SAMIULLAH NIAZI (4/8/82, 0)
Called up to the squad after Sussex pave bowler Rana Naved-ul-Hasan was ruled out of the entire series with a troublesome groin injury. A left-armer capable of considerable pace, Niazi is little known outside Pakistan. He was named man of the match after taking 4-25 to help Faisalabad Wolves beat Lahore Eagles in the final of Pakistan's premier one-day competition. The 23-year-old was a star performer in the last domestic season, and as so little is known of him outside of Pakistan, he must rate a mysterious danger to England's batemen on this tour.

TAUFEEQ UMAR (20/6/1981, 24)
Considered one of the brightest young prospects in Pakistan, Taufeeq caught the eye as a future full international during the World U15 Challenge in England. Several impressive knocks inspired Pakistan to the final, where they lost to rivals India. However, it proved that Taufeeq was ready to step up to the big time and in 2001 he was given his Test debut against Bangladesh. The talented left-hander duly notched up a century to become the eighth player to post a ton on Test debut for Pakistan. He followed that up with a fine 88 against Australia and then an even better 135 against South Africa at Cape Town.

RAO IFTIKHAR ANJUM (1/12/1980, 1)
Due to Pakistan’s abundance of pace bowlers at present, Iftikhar Anjum has been on the periphery of the Test squad for a few years now but could now make his mark after being called up for the series against England due to injuries. His high-arm action is reminiscent of Australia pace bowler Glenn McGrath, although in his native Pakistan he is constantly compared to Aaqib Javed with a lethal outswinger and an ability to reverse swing the old ball. He was included in Pakistan’s one-day squad to face India in 2004 but had to wait to make his debut seven months later. He was given his Test debut against Sri Lanka in 2006.

SHOAIB AKHTAR (13/08/1975, 42)
Arguably the most destructive pace bowler in world cricket, Shoaib is one of the great enigmas of the modern game. Nicknamed the Rawalpindi Express, he burst onto the big stage in the 1999 World Cup with a long, hurtling run-up and blistering speed. But the adulation afforded him by his many followers seemed to affect his performances as fans and media alike clamoured for him to break the 100mph barrier. The authorities twice sidelined him over throwing allegations but his action was cleared courtesy of hyperextensible joints and the University of Western Australia. But he came back to his best form at home against England in 2006, finishing with 17 wickets and providing the difference between the two sides with his slow balls and yorkers.

MOHAMMAD HAFEEZ (17/10/1980, 3)
A talented, young opening batsman who can also bowl handy offspin, Hafeez is considered a long-term prospect by the selectors. He was called upon after Pakistan’s below-par displays in the 2003 World Cup and his organised approach towards batting ensured he got an opportunity in the Test and ODI teams. However, his form dipped during one-dayers against South Africa, leading to his exclusion from the national set-up. A fine century for Pakistan A against Australia A in 2006, allied with Pakistan's opening problems on the tour to England, meant that Hafeez was recalled into the side for the final Test at The Brit Oval.