LAHORE, Pakistan, Nov 11 (Reuters): Pakistan axed Asad Shafiq from their test team for the upcoming New Zealand tour on Wednesday, also omitting veterans Mohammad Amir and Shoaib Malik from the Twenty20 squad as part of their go-young policy in the short format.
Middle order batsman Shafiq managed only 67 runs in five innings in Pakistan's 1-0 series defeat in England in August.
"Asad Shafiq has been left out due to lack of form," head coach Misbah-ul-Haq said in a statement after announcing an expanded 35-member squad.
"I am sure he will utilise this time to work harder on his game in the domestic first-class matches so that he, like Sarfaraz Ahmed, can reclaim his form and be back in contention for the upcoming tests against South Africa and Zimbabwe."
The two-match series, beginning on December 26 at Mount Maunganui, will mark the beginning of Babar Azam's tenure as Pakistan's Test captain.
Wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan will be Azam's deputy for the Tests.
The Test matches will be preceded by three Twenty20 Internationals but paceman Amir and veteran all-rounder Malik will not be seen in action.
"Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Amir are not part of the white-ball matches as for this tour we have opted to invest, develop and focus on the promising and emerging players who are likely to be available to Pakistan for all formats," Misbah said.
Meanwhile, Pakistan named Babar Azam as their new test captain on Tuesday, putting the batsman in charge of teams across all formats.
Babar replaces Azhar Ali, who led Pakistan to a 1-0 series defeat in England earlier this year.
Squad: Babar Azam (captain), Abid Ali, Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood, Zeeshan Malik, Azhar Ali, Danish Aziz, Fawad Alam, Haider Ali, Haris Sohail, Hussain Talat, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imran Butt, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Rizwan, Rohail Nazir, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Usman Qadir, Yasir Shah, Zafar Gohar, Amad Butt, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Musa, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sohail Khan, Wahab Riaz
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