KARACHI, 7 November 2006 — The selection committee of the Pakistan Cricket Board yesterday announced the names of 15 players for the first two Tests of the three-Test home series against the West Indies beginning from Saturday.

The selectors have recalled right-handed stylish opener Yasir Hameed and rookie medium pacer Samiullah Niazi for the first two Tests to be played in Lahore from Nov. 11 and the second in Multan from Nov.19.

Inzamam ul-Haq, who is serving an ICC ban for four one-dayers, will lead the side in the Test series. During their five week tour, the Caribbean cricket team will play three Tests and five One-Day Internationals between Nov. 11 and Dec.16.

The West Indies squad arrived last night from India where they finished runners-up to Australia in the final of ICC Champions Trophy in Mumbai on Sunday.

Hameed was recalled after being ignored since June 2005 when he last played for Pakistan in the West Indies. He has played in 17 Tests and 48 ODIs.

Chief selectors, former wicketkeeper and captain Wasim Bari, who announced the team in Lahore yesterday afternoon, said young left-arm medium pacer Samiullah Niazi has also been included in the team to shore up the pace attack. The Pakistan pace attack was drastically depleted after their two key fast bowlers, Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif, were banned last week for a doping offense.

Pakistan squad: Imran Farhat, Mohammad Hafeez, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Inzamam ul-Haq, Abdul Razzaq, Kamran Akmal, Danish Kaneria, Samiullah Niazi, Yasir Hameed, Shahid Nazir, Faisal Iqbal, Abdul Rehman, Umar Gul, Shoaib Malik.

West Indies open the tour with a two-day match here from Wednesday. The first of three Tests starts here from Nov. 11.

Coach: Bennet King Program: Nov. 8-9 — two-day game against PCB Patron’s XI in Lahore; Nov. 11-15 — 1st Test in Lahore; Nov. 19-23 — 2nd Test in Multan; Nov. 27- Dec. 1 — 3rd Test in Karachi; Dec. 5 — 1st ODI in Rawalpindi; Dec. 7 — 2nd ODI- Faisalabad; Dec. 10 — 3rd ODI — Lahore; Dec. 13 — 4th ODI — Multan; Dec. 16 — 5th ODI — Karachi.

Meanwhile, the West Indies cricket squad arrived last night in Lahore to play three Tests and five One-Day Internationals during their first tour of Pakistan in nine years.

The West Indies had refused to tour Pakistan over security concerns in the wake of Sept. 11 attacks and Pakistan had to play their home series on neutral grounds in Sharjah, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2002.

They last toured Pakistan in 1997.

West Indies, who finished runners-up to Australia in the Champions Trophy in India on Sunday, have no pre-tour security fears now as England and arch-rivals India toured Pakistan in the past 12 months.

Legendary batsman Brian Lara is leading the 15-man side which has one uncapped player in opener Lendl Simmons.

Marlon Samuels, Wavell Hinds, Ian Bradshaw, Carlton Baugh and Dwayne Smith — who all were part of the team in the Champions Trophy — were dropped for the Test series against Pakistan. Off-spinner Omari Banks, who last played a Test during the tour of Sri Lanka over a year ago, along with left-arm Dave Mohammed form the spin attack of the tourists.

Daren Powell returns after missing the home series against India and Zimbabwe earlier this year to strengthen the pace department, which also includes Jerome Taylor, Fidel Edwards, Corey Collymore and Dwayne Bravo.

West Indies open the tour with a two-day match here from Wednesday. The first of three Tests starts here from Nov. 11.