Mushtaq Ahmed will hope to replicate his County Championship form for Pakistan © Getty Images Enlarge

Pakistan have recalled Mushtaq Ahmed as part of a group of five spinners included in their 16-man squad for the first two Tests against England.

Mushtaq hasn't played a Test for two years, but he faces competition from fellow-spinners Danish Kaneria and Arshad Khan, as well as allrounders Shoaib Malik and Shahid Afridi if he is to make his return. The squad also includes the fast-bowling duo of Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami, suggesting the selectors have yet to decide whether to go for a predominantly pace or spin attack for the first two Tests. Allrounder Abdul Razzaq isn't included in the squad as he has been told to rest his injured elbow for three to four weeks.

Mushtaq has played only three Tests since he last played against England, at Lahore in November 2000. He took 0 for 132 in the first innings while his spin partner Saqlain Mushtaq took 8 for 164.

The first of three Tests begins at Multan on November 12.

Pakistan squad Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), Arshad Khan, Asim Kamal, Danish Kaneria, Hassan Raza, Kamran Akmal (wk), Mohammad Sami, Mohammad Yousuf, Mushtaq Ahmed, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Salman Butt, Shabbir Ahmed, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Akhtar, Shoaib Malik, Younis Khan.