Umar Akmal, Riaz recalled for South Africa ODIs

Pakistan batsman Umar Akmal and seamer Wahab Riaz have been recalled to the ODI squad for the five-match series against South Africa in the UAE. Sohaib Maqsood, the right-handed batsman who played two T20s in Zimbabwe recently, was also named in the 16-member squad.

The selectors left out three players who featured in the Zimbabwe ODIs, including seamers Anwar Ali and Asad Ali and batsman Haris Sohail.

Akmal was not considered for the limited-overs leg of the Zimbabwe tour after suffering a seizure on a flight to Jamaica during the Caribbean Premier League in August. The PCB had asked him to return to Pakistan immediately and consult a neurologist. He was subsequently cleared by the neurologist in early September and declared fit for national selection. He was not considered for the Test squad in Zimbabwe and for the ongoing two-match series against South Africa.

Sohail was part of Pakistan's two recent tours to the West Indies and Zimbabwe. He played just one ODI in Zimbabwe, scoring 2. Riaz, the left-arm seamer, toured the West Indies but was left out of the limited-overs leg in Zimbabwe.

Sohail Tanvir, a regular in the T20 squad, was also recalled, having last played an ODI in August 2012. With the right-armers Asad and Anwar dropped, the selectors have opted for an one-dimensional seam attack, picking four left-armers.

Sarfraz Ahmed, who was named as Akmal's replacement in Zimbabwe, was retained in the squad, giving the team two wicketkeeping options.

The ODI series begins on October 30 in Sharjah.