Pacer Mohammad Amir was dropped as Pakistan announced its 17-man squad for the two-Test series against Australia to be held in the UAE.

Amir’s exclusion comes after the pacer was unable to pick a single wicket in the Asia Cup where Pakistan crashed out of the Super Four stage with defeat to Bangladesh.

While Amir has been dropped, another pacer in Wahab Riaz has been handed a recall. Also picked is the uncapped Mir Hamza who adds another left-armed option to Pakistan’s pace battery. Wahab last featured for Pakistan in the Test series against Sri Lanka in October last year and was dropped from the squad with head coach Mickey Arthur publicly questioning his ability to win games for the side.

That Amir was able to pick just the single wicket in Pakistan’s last Test series in the UAE (against Sri Lanka) might have also been a big factor in his omission.

“The team has been selected keeping in mind the conditions of the UAE. Mohammad Amir has been dropped from the side while Wahab Riaz and Mir Hamza have been picked,” chief selector and former skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq stated.

With Pakistan expected to bank on spin in the two matches, a maiden Test call up has been handed to off-spinner Bilal Asif. The 33-year-old has previously played three ODIs for the country and will present a different option apart from the two leg-spinners in Yasir Shah and Shadab Khan.

“Three spinners, Shahdab Khan, Yasir Shah and Bilal Asif, have been kept in the squad keeping in view the UAE wickets. Furthermore, Mohammad Rizwan makes a comeback in the Test squad,” Inzamam said.

The first of the two Tests between Pakistan and Australia will get underway in Dubai on October 7.

PAKISTAN 17-MAN SQUAD

Sarfraz Ahmed (c), Azhar Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Usman Salahuddin, Yasir Shah, Shadab Khan, Bilal Asif, Mohammad Abbas, Hasan Ali, Wahab Riaz, Faheem Ashraf, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan