Asif took 25 wickets in seven games for Leicester before injury struck

The 23-year-old has returned to the tour after returning to Pakistan for treatment on an elbow injury.

It was thought Asif would be saved for the one-day series but captain Inzamam-ul-Haq indicated he could replace out-of-form Mohammad Sami.

"Maybe Asif will play. He is bowling well and is 100% fit after playing two games in Pakistan," said Inzamam.

"He bowls a good line and length, is an attacking bowler - that's the main thing - and in the last couple of years he has performed well. He knows how to take wickets."

One fast bowler definitely out of contention for the Oval Test is Shoaib Akhtar, who has had limited practice.

Sami, Pakistan's senior bowler in the absence of Shoaib, has had a miserable series, claiming only eight wickets at a cost of over 58.

The tourists, 2-0 down in the series, were hoping to use the explosive Shoaib who took 17 wickets in the winter series against England, as they bid to end with a victory, but they decided he would not be match fit.

There is no chaos here - it is controlled chaos if anything Bob Woolmer

The 31-year-old returned to action for his country in a game against West Indies A on Saturday but bowled only 11 overs because of bad weather.

He had been out of competitive cricket since January because of a stress fracture and will now concentrate on the five-match one-day series which begins on 30 August.

Also out are openers Salman Butt and Taufeeq Umar, who have been sent home after disappointing at Headingley, meaning a recall for Mohammad Hafeez.

He will open with Imran Farhat as the tourists make top-order changes again.

Another seamer, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, is also back in England having recovered from a groin injury, but again will not feature before the one-day series.

We would like to have kept Salman Butt and Imran Farhat together right the way through the series Woolmer on the openers

Paceman Samiullah Niazi has also returned to Pakistan but coach Bob Woolmer insisted the coming and going was not a sign of disarray in his camp.

"There is no chaos here - it is controlled chaos if anything," he said.

"We brought Asif and Rana back to get them going again, Shoaib is here training with us for the one-dayers.

"He will be fit for them so there are a lot of positives. We are in keeping with the Pakistan tradition of large touring parties."

Hafeez will win his fourth Test cap after impressing for Pakistan A in the recent Top End Series in Australia.

The 25-year-old, who also bowls off-spin, will be part of yet another new opening combination for the visitors.

TMS MESSAGE BOARD VIEW I think Salman Butt and Taufeeq Umar should have been persisted with SC TMS: Have your say

But Woolmer says it is a situation that has been forced on them, adding: "The loss of Shoaib Malik at the start of the series was a blow to us definitely.

"We would like to have kept Salman Butt and Imran Farhat together right the way through the series but Imran Farhat broke his finger in Manchester so we were unable to do that.

"A right hand-left hand combination is what we would like.