The 21-year-old paceman from Peshawar played the last of his five Tests against India at Lahore last year, but since then was sidelined with a back problem.

India, who arrive on January 5, are scheduled to play three Tests and five one-day games on their second tour of Pakistan in two years.

They open the tour with a three-day game in Lahore from January 7.

Gul took five wickets in Pakistan's nine-wicket win in the second Test in Lahore last year before a stress fracture of the back forced him to pull out of international cricket.

Although he regained full fitness he was not given a chance in Pakistan's home series against England which Pakistan won early this month.

Batsman Hasan Raza, who failed in the two Tests against England, was retained as Pakistan A captain in a team that includes seven Test cricketers.

Former Test opener Mohammad Wasim was recalled after a good performance in domestic cricket, while middle-order batsman Asim Kamal was also given a chance to break into the Pakistan eleven.

A five-member security delegation from India is on an assessment tour of Pakistan before the final itinerary is announced later this week.

India are tentatively scheduled to play Tests in Lahore, Faisalabad and Karachi, while one-day matches are scheduled for Peshawar, Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi and Multan.

Pakistan A squad: Hasan Raza (captain), Imran Farhat, Mohammad Wasim, Faisal Iqbal, Asim Kamal, Bazid Khan, Zulqarnain Haider, Mansoor Amjad, Mohammad Irshad, Umar Gul, Rao Iftikhar, Yasir Arafat.

(Article: Copyright © 2005 AFP)