Three new players arrive for Test series, Shoaib Akhtar to return to Pakistan

Arshad Khan, Younis Khan and Humayun Farhat arrive in New Zealand tomorrow to join the Pakistan squad for its three Test series against the CLEAR Black Caps.

Arshad Khan is a right arm off break bowler. He has played 48 ODIs since first selected in 1992/93 but was not selected for a Test until 1997/98 and has since played only eight. He has 30 Test wickets at 28.40. His career highlight to date was 5-38 against Sri Lanka in the Asian Test Championship in March 1999.

Younis Khan scored a century on his Test debut against Sri Lanka in late 1999. The 23-year-old right hand batsman had a sensational first series averaging 85.50 across the three Tests. He has now played nine Tests and averages 31.00.

Humayun Farhat is the heir apparent to Moin Khan. The 20-year-old is however considered a batsman who keeps wicket. He has scored over 800 domestic runs this season and is a powerful middle order batsman. He is also the brother of Imran Farhat, the Pakistani opener.

Shoaib Akhtar will return to Pakistan tomorrow. Pakistan team manager, Fakir Aizazuddin, said Akhtar has an injury to his left thigh which would not be sufficiently recovered to play in the Test series.

He said the decision for Shoaib to return home had been taken prior to his reporting for a suspect bowling action and was unconnected to that issue.

He added that Shoaib would not be available to the media for comment.

The manager also confirmed that "more than three" players - not including Shoaib - would not be required for the Test series and would be returning to Pakistan. He said those players would be confirmed tomorrow morning.