Young opener Taufeeq Umar [Images] and veteran spinner Arshad Khan were on Saturday named in a 16-member Pakistan Test squad for the high-profile series against India.

There were hardly any surprises as Pakistan cricket selectors decided to more or less retain the squad that was whitewashed 3-0 in the recent Test series against Australia.

Younis Khan was named the vice-captain in place of Yousuf Youhana while Waqar Younis was appointed as the bowling coach.

Umar, 22, last played for Pakistan against India at Rawalpindi while 34-year-old Arshad Khan's previous appearance in a Test was against England [Images] in November 2000.

Paceman Mohammad Sami [Images] and Mohammad Khalil were retained in the squad after they passed fitness tests in the morning that were conducted by coach Bob Woolmer [Images] and foreign trainers Daryl Lifson, Murray Stevenson and Grant Compton.

Sami had to return from the Australian tour because of a shin injury while Khalil was nursing a groin injury.

Earlier this week, Sami had appeared in a drawn Patron's Trophy game for National Bank of Pakistan in which he had figures of 14-7-21-2.

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Imran Farhat [Images] and Mohammad Asif [Images], who toured Australia, were dropped from the Indian tour while Shoaib Akhtar [Images] was not considered after withdrawing from the Indian tour on Friday citing an aggravated hamstring injury.

"We have basically stuck to the policy of consistency as evident from the fact that the team consists mostly of players who undertook the tour of Australia," Chairman of selectors Wasim Bari said.

"It (team) is a unanimous choice of the selectors and the team management. We all know that the tour of India will be difficult but we have faith in your youngsters. I am sure they must have learnt a great deal from the Australian tour," Bari, a former Pakistan captain, said.

Together, the Pakistan team has 316 Tests between them with skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq [Images] alone having played nearly one-third of these (97). The average age of the squad is 26.5.

Arshad, a 34-year-old 'pathan', is a crafty off-spinner who has claimed 30 wickets in eight Tests at 28.40. In 168 first-class matches, he has 558 wickets which speaks for his experience.

Bari said Arshad had been rewarded for his consistent performance. "He has been performing consistently. He has been recalled keeping in view the Indian conditions."

Inzamam said he had mixed feelings about the squad. "I am happy that Sami and Khalil passed fitness Tests because they must have gained something in Australia. But I am sorry for Shahid Nazir who missed the bus by a whisker. He has actually been elbowed out by Khalil."

Inzamam said he had a young but talented team at his disposal. "It is a young team which is determined and committed to do well. I am sure if we maintain discipline on the field, we will succeed."

Woolmer, who arrived this morning from Cape Town (South Africa), told reporters: "It is going to be a challenging tour of India and I am looking forward to it. We will definitely miss Shoaib Akhtar but frankly speaking we need a fit Shoaib."

The PCB gave no explanation about sacking of Youhana, who held the post since March 2003, but it is believed that it is part of a long term planning which may result in Younis emerging as future captain.

Squad: Inzamam-ul-Haq (captain), Younis Khan (vice-capt), Taufeeq Umar, Salman Butt [Images], Yasir Hameed [Images], Yousuf Youhana, Asim Kamal, Shoaib Malik [Images], Kamran Akmal (wicketkeeper), Arshad Khan, Danish Kaneria, Shahid Afridi [Images], Naved-ul-Hasan, Mohammad Sami, Mohammad Khalil and Abdul Razzaq [Images].