Mushtaq for Rest of Pakistan

Mushtaq Ahmed, the Pakistan and Sussex legspinner, has done his chances of being selected for the Test team to face England no harm by finding a place in the Rest of Pakistan side set to play a Pakistan XI beginning October 26.

Mushtaq, 35, has not played a Test for Pakistan in over two years, but has been a prolific wicket-taker for Sussex over the past three seasons. He finished the current season with 80 first class wickets, and speculation is rife that Mushtaq may have a key role against England with their historic susceptibility to quality legspin. Just looking at Shane Warne's 40 wickets in this summer's Ashes highlights the fact that the English have been found wanting against legspin and it is with such statistics in mind that the Pakistan think tank surely ticked off Mushtaq's name.

However, with first-choice Danish Kaneria taking wickets on a regular basis at the international level, it is possible the Pakistan selectors will stick to him, with Shoaib Malik and Shahid Afridi being used as backup options.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has arranged three practice matches, all four-day affairs and adjudged first-class, to prepare the national players for the England team's forthcoming tour of Pakistan. Inzamam-ul-Haq, who has supported a Mushtaq recall, is set to captain the Pakistan XI side.