Also in the mix...

It is not just Irfan & Ali who will be looking to make an impact against arch-rivals.

Umar Amin

Age: 23, Rawalpindi

Left-handed bat

Has played 4 Tests and 3 ODIs

A stylish, left-handed batsman and another product of Lahore's National Cricket Academy (NCA), Amin is considered intelligent, well-grounded and attractive on the off-side. Experts though believe he's more suited for the longer format, a view that was accorded by the selectors when they picked him for the Tests in England two years ago. Amin debuted at Lord's against Australia, but his technique was found wanting in the swinging English conditions. The youngster though has added a few attacking shots to his repertoire. Originally from Rawalpindi, Amin found it tough to relocate to the NCA but such was his talent that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) didn't think twice before investing in him.

Asad Ali

Age: 24, Faislabad

Right-arm medium-fast

Still to make international debut

Asad Ali isn't a tearaway quick but makes up for it with a lot of nous and street-smartness in limited-overs cricket. A workhorse, who is known to assess situations and conditions quickly and is able to adapt accordingly, the right-arm medium-pacer, makes the most of his limited ability. Ali boasts of a terrific domestic record across all formats. He made his first impact as a 19-year-old by containing a weighty Habib Bank Limited line-up that included Younis Khan and Shahid Afridi. He's also fortunate to have played under both Mohammad Hafeez and Misbah-ul-Haq-the respective T20 and ODI captains for the Indian tour, which fast-tracked his selection.

Zulfiqur Babar

Age: 34, Okara

Left-arm spinner

Still to make international debut

Life begins at 34. Certainly if you are Zulfiqur Babar it does. The journeyman left-arm spinner received the best birthday gift he could have asked for when the Pakistan selectors named him in both the T20 and ODI squads the day he turned 34. Babar hails from the small agricultural town of Okara, which hasn't produced an international cricketer for 60 years now. Young Raza Hasan's injury could well have opened the door for Babar, and he will be desperate to make the most of this delayed opportunity. He does come here with the confidence of being the highest wicket-taker in the President's Cup back home. He is known to be unafraid to flight the ball.

... contd.

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