Asif in squad for the final Test

Mohammad Asif, the Pakistan fast bowler, and Mohammad Hafeez, the allrounder, will reinforce the squad in England before the fourth Test starting on August 17 at The Oval in London.

"They [Asif and Hafeez] will be joining the team in next few days and will be considered for the fourth Test and the one-day series," said Abbas Zaidi, the Pakistan board director. "Both of them will hopefully strengthen the side and give more options to the team management."

Asif, who has taken 25 wickets in five Tests, returned home before the first Test of the series (at Lord's) with an elbow injury. He has since recovered and passed a fitness test on August 4.

Hafeez, an opener and offbreak bowler, has been called up after a string of good performances recently for the A side against England, New Zealand and India. He last played for the senior team against India in April 2005 while the last of his last three Test appearances was against Bangladesh in 2003.

Pakistan have not only had to struggle with injuries to their key bowlers, Shoaib Akhtar, Asif and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan but also with their opening pair. Pakistan have tried three different opening combinations in the three Tests in England so far with regular opener Imran Farhat being overlooked for the ongoing third Test at Headingley because of a finger injury.