1 Nov 2016

Two newcomers in Pakistan team for NZ tour

7:56 am on 1 November 2016

Opening batsman Sharjeel Khan has earned his first call-up to the Pakistan Test squad for this month's tour of New Zealand.

Pakistan batsman Younis Khan.

Pakistan batsman Younis Khan. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

27 year old Sharjeel has played 20 ODI's and 15 T20's for Pakistan.

He scored 152 off 86 balls against Ireland in August.

Sharjeel has 4853 first-class runs at an average of 37.91 with 11 hundreds and 21 fifties.

He came into contention for Test cricket after scoring 96 and 82 not out in successive innings in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.

Pakistan have tried six opening combinations since the start of 2015.

Middle order batsman Mohammas Rizwan is the other uncapped player in the squad.

Younis Khan, captain Misbah-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq - touted as one of Pakistan's most technically proficient batsmen - and wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed make for a strong middle order.

Spinner Zulfiqar Babar has been dropped, while there are three left-arm quicks in Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir and Rahat Ali, to go with right-arm seamers Sohail Khan and Imran Khan.

Pakistan's 16-man Test squad

Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Azhar Ali, Sami Aslam, Sharjeel Khan, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Mohammad Rizwan, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz, Rahat Ali, Sohail Khan, Imran Khan

The two Tests are in Christchurch and Hamilton.