KARACHI: Pakistan have recalled paceman Mohammad Sami to partner Shoaib Akhtar in the three-Test series against India starting next week but omitted all-rounder Shahid Afridi, selectors announced on Friday.   

"Sami has been in good form and since fast bowling is our strength, we think Sami partnering Akhtar would strengthen Pakistan's attack in the Tests," chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed told.   

The first Test opens in New Delhi on November 22. The other two Tests are scheduled for Calcutta from November 30 to December 4, and Bangalore from December 4-8.   

Batsman Faisal Iqbal and leg-spinner Danish Kaneria will join the 15-man Test squad. Afridi, all-rounder Fawad Alam, opener Imran Nazir and paceman Rao Iftikhar will return home after the ongoing one-day series.   

India clinched that series with a clinical six-wicket win at Gwalior on Thursday for an unassailable 3-1 lead, leaving the fifth and last match at Jaipur on Sunday inconsequential.   

The 26-year-old Sami played the last of his 30 Tests against South Africa at Cape Town earlier this year. He has taken 77 Test wickets -- a tally which many believe belies his huge potential.   

Sami took a career-best 8-39 for Karachi against Sialkot in the domestic tournament last week, which was instrumental in his recall.   

"We have followed Sami's progress in the season and hope that he plays his part in the series," Ahmed said of Sami, who was also part of Pakistan's team on their last tour of India in 2005.   

All-rounder Afridi, 27, was a surprise omission. He had opted to rest in Pakistan's last Test series against South Africa at home last month.   

Pakistan will miss another paceman, Mohammad Asif, who was not considered while recovering from an elbow injury.   

Asif is due to travel to Australia for an assessment of his injury later this week and hopes he can still play a part in the Test series.       

Test squad: Shoaib Malik (capt), Salman Butt, Yasir Hameed, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul Haq, Faisal Iqbal, Kamran Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Sohail Tanveer, Abdul Rehman, Mohammad Sami, Danish Kaneria