Fawad Alam included in 16-member squad for upcoming Tests against Bangladesh.

After more than a decade of being overlooked by national selectors, batsman Fawad Alam was made part of Pakistan's national Test squad that was announced on Saturday for the upcoming Test matches against Bangladesh.

The batsman, who has a 40-plus batting average in both Tests and ODIs, was also included in the squad for the Test series against Sri Lanka last year, but did not make it to the final team. It remains to be seen if he will be included in the playing 11 in the upcoming Tests.

He played his last international Test match in November 2009. Though his international numbers are rare, his domestic statistics are outstanding which has led spectators to question why selectors have refused to include him in the national team.

Head coach and chief selector Misbahul Haq announced the 16-member squad for upcoming Test matches against Bangladesh, in a press conference in Lahore today.

Azhar Ali will captain the team while bowler Bilal Asif and all-rounder Fahim Ashraf have been recalled. Batsmen Shan Masood and Babar Azam, who starred in the Test matches against Sri Lanka in December last year, have been retained. Abid Ali, Asad Shafiq, Imamul Haq and Haris Sohail are also part of the squad.

Bowlers Naseem Shah, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Abbas, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Imran Khan (senior) have also been included in the team. Mohammad Rizwan has also been retained.

According to a press release by Pakistan Cricket Board, Asif has...