Afridi and Younis dropped from Test squad

Shahid Afridi and Younis Khan have been omitted from Pakistan's squad for the Test series against India starting in Multan on March 28. Danish Kaneria and Umar Gul make a comeback to the side after being overlooked for the one-day series, and Misbah-ul-Haq, who was dropped halfway through the series, returns to the team.

While Umar's inclusion strengthens the formidable pace attack, Kaneria, being a legspinner, gives the spin department variety, along with Saqlain Mushtaq and Shoaib Malik. Imran Farhat, who played one game against India, has been retained in the Test team.

A below-par performance in the one-day series led to Afridi and Younis's exclusion - Afridi failed after a rip-roaring 80-run knock in his first match, while Younis scored 140 runs in five games.

Pakistan 1 Taufeeq Umar, 2 Imran Farhat, 3 Yasir Hameed, 4 Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), 5 Yousuf Youhana, 6 Asim Kamal, 7 Misbah-ul-Haq, 8 Moin Khan (wk), 9 Abdul Razzaq, 10 Danish Kaneria, 11 Saqlain Mushtaq, 12 Shoaib Malik, 13 Shoaib Akhtar, 14 Mohammad Sami, 15 Shabbir Ahmed, 16 Umar Gul.