Saqlain's recall is bad news for championship-chasing Surrey

Saqlain, who has taken 205 wickets in 47 tests, has not played Test cricket since January and has been ignored by selectors since the World Cup.

Chief selector Aamer Sohail said on Saturday: "Saqlain has been called up from England because Shoaib Akhtar has to rejoin Durham.

"We wanted to bolster our bowling resources. Saqlain is a champion bowler and his hunger for the game is renewed.

"We feel now is the right time to bring him back into the team."

Pakistan enjoy an unassailable two-nil lead in the three-Test series after sealing a nine-wicket win at Peshawar.

Saqlain's recall leaves defending county champions Surrey in the lurch.

The third Test at Multan starts on Wednesday, the day before Surrey's key match against Kent. A loss at Canterbury would deliver a hammer blow to their title defence.

If Saqlain is retained for the five-match one-day series that follows the Tests, he would miss all of Surrey's remaining championship matches.

Interestingly, Pakistan selectors have overlooked Mushtaq Ahmed, the Sussex leg-spinner who with 89 scalps is the leading wicket-taker in England this season. Saqlain has just 41.

Batsman Younis Khan also returns to the Pakistan squad after missing the first two Tests due to family commitments.

Pakistan have included three uncapped players, all of whom recently toured South Africa with the national academy team.

Opener Salman Butt scored a double hundred and century on the tour, while batsman Asim Kamal and fast bowler Yasir Ali also impressed.

Misbah-ul-Haq and Saeed Bin Nasir have been dropped while Shoaib Malik is ruled out due to a groin injury suffered in the second Test.