England announce squads to take on Pakistan in 3 Tests, 4 ODIs and 3 T20s

Zafar Ansari bowls for Surrey in the County Championship

England have announced their Test, ODI and T20 squads to take on Pakistan in the series in the UAE starting on October 13. The tour, which consists of 3 Tests, 4 ODIs and 3 T20s, will see both the sides have winning momentum, England having won the Ashes 2015 and Pakistan having defeated Sri Lanka in July earlier this year.

Opener Alex Hales and left arm spinner and all rounder Zafar Ansari have been given debut call-ups in the 16-man Test squad. Hales, who had a disappointing ODI series against Australia, has been given another chance to stamp his place in the team, replacing Ashes casualty Adam Lyth.

23-year-old Zafar Ansari has been taken as the third bowling all rounder in the team to complement Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid. The Surrey left-hander, who has registered 771 runs and 44 wickets in his team’s effort to stay in the First Division, has been rewarded for a stunning season.

James Taylor, who earnedhis last Test cap in 2012, has been recalled to the side as well.

Ben Stokes, who has been one of England’s standout performer of recent times, has been rested from the ODI and T20 formats, to keep him fresh for the tour of South Africa later in the year.

England Test squad:

Alastair Cook (Essex) captainMoeen Ali (Worcestershire)James Anderson (Lancashire)Zafar Ansari (Surrey)Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire)Ian Bell (Warwickshire)Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)Jos Buttler (Lancashire)Steven Finn (Middlesex)Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire)Liam Plunkett (Yorkshire)Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)Joe Root (Yorkshire)Ben Stokes (Durham)James Taylor (Nottinghamshire)Mark Wood (Durham)One-Day International squadEoin Morgan (Middlesex) captainMoeen Ali (Worcestershire)Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire)Sam Billings (Kent)Jos Buttler (Lancashire)Steven Finn (Middlesex)Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire)Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)Joe Root (Yorkshire)Jason Roy (Surrey)James Taylor (Nottinghamshire)Reece Topley (Essex)David Willey (Northamptonshire)Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)Mark Wood (Durham)T20 International SquadEoin Morgan (Middlesex) captainMoeen Ali (Worcestershire)Sam Billings (Kent)Jos Buttler (Lancashire)Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire)Chris Jordan (Sussex)Stephen Parry (Lancashire)Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)Joe Root (Yorkshire)Jason Roy (Surrey)Reece Topley (Essex)James Vince (Hampshire)David Willey (Northamptonshire)Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)Mark Wood (Durham)Pakistan v England in UAE 2015 – tour itinerary:30 September England team arrive 5-6 October Two-day game vs Pakistan A Sharjah CC8-9 October Two-day game vs Pakistan A Sharjah CC13-17 October 1st Test ZCS, Abu Dhabi22-26 October 2nd Test Dubai Cricket Stadium1-5 November 3rd Test Sharjah CC 8 November One-day practice match ZCS, Abu Dhabi11 November 1st ODI D/N ZCS, Abu Dhabi13 November 2nd ODI D/N ZCS, Abu Dhabi17 November 3rd ODI D/N Sharjah CC20 November 4th ODI D/N Dubai Cricket Stadium23 November T20 v UAE XI (f) ZCS, Abu Dhabi26 November 1st IT20 (f) Dubai Cricket Stadium27 November 2nd IT20 (f) Dubai Cricket Stadium30 November 3rd IT20 (f) Sharjah CC1 December England depart UAE

Thanks for the messages, very excited for my first test tour! https://t.co/qrQ5xzgnlg

— Alex Hales (@AlexHales1) September 15, 2015