Tour Match Drawn, Pakistan Bolster Squad

Asad Shafiq made runs on the final day and was rewarded with a call-up to Pakistan's Test squad

Pakistan 'A' and the South Africans drew their tour game in Sharjah, after which Pakistan added Shan Masood, Ahmed Shehzad and Asad Shafiq to their Test squad.

On the final day, Pakistan 'A' reached 311 for six in their 100 overs before declaring, and South Africa used the remainder of the day to give their middle and lower-order batsmen time at the crease.

There were useful runs for Faf du Plessis (42) before they closed on 109 for three in their second innings.

Shafiq made a fluent 42 in 92 balls when Pakistan 'A' batted to impress the selectors enough to include him while captain Umar Amin fell for 12.

Sohaib Maqsood and Mohammad Rizwan were unbeaten on 34 and 31 respectively when Pakistan declared having faced 100 overs.

South Africa then opened with JP Duminy and du Plessis, Duminy making 23 and Robin Peterson, in at number three, falling for 16.

Vernon Philander (11) and Morne Morkel (16) were not out when stumps were drawn.

The first Test begins in Abu Dhabi on 14th October.

Pakistan Test squad: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Abdur Rehman, Adnan Akmal (wicket-keeper), Ahmed Shehzad, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Junaid Khan, Khurram Manzoor, Mohammad Irfan, Rahat Ali, Shan Masood, Umar Amin, Younus Khan, Zulfiqar Babar

© Cricket World 2013

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Cusack returns to Ireland squad

Ireland all-rounder Alex Cusack is back in the squad for next month's World Twenty20 qualifiers in the UAE.

The Clontarf player returns after being sidelined for the last month of the season with a back injury.

Cusack is also in the Irish squad for the InterContinental Cup final against Afghanistan in December.

Andrew White has been left out the T20 squad but the all-rounder is included for the InterContinental Cup decider against the Afghans.

White is Ireland's leading scorer in InterContinental Cup history with 1,502 runs at an average of 60.08.

"It was difficult to leave Andrew White out of the T20 squad, but he hasn't played much for us in the format, and the selectors felt that it was a good chance to take a look at some of the other contenders," said Ireland coach Phil Simmons.

Ireland are attempting to make the World Twenty20 finals for a fourth successive time, and have been seeded number one in Group A of the 16-team event - six qualifiers will go forward to Bangladesh next April.

It is a familiar looking squad with 12 of the 15 players veterans of the 2012 finals in Sri Lanka. Andrew McBrine, James Shannon and John Mooney are the three players who didn't make that trip.

Simmons added: "It's good to have Alex back in the frame. He's an intelligent cricketer and a very canny bowler to have, especially in the powerplays. He mixes his pace up well and can be difficult to read for the batsmen.

"We also have John Mooney fit again after he missed the Scotland matches, so we've plenty of options in the bowling department. Eddie Richardson's probably a little unlucky to miss out, but we have a lot of all-rounders in our ranks.

"Andrew McBrine deserves an opportunity. He's done very well this season and his bowling will be a useful asset on the slower pitches in the UAE."

Ireland squad for ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers, UAE, November 15-30

William Porterfield (captain) (Warwickshire), Alex Cusack (Clontarf), George Dockrell (Somerset), Trent Johnston (YMCA), Ed Joyce (Sussex), Andrew McBrine (Donemana), John Mooney (North County), Tim Murtagh (Middlesex), Kevin O'Brien (Railway Union), Niall O'Brien (Leicestershire), James Shannon (Instonians), Max Sorensen (The Hills), Paul Stirling (Middlesex), Stuart Thompson (Eglinton), Gary Wilson (Surrey).

Ireland squad for ICC InterContinental Cup final v Afghanistan at Global Cricket Academy, Dubai, December 10-14.

William Porterfield (captain) (Warwickshire), George Dockrell (Somerset), Trent Johnston (YMCA), Ed Joyce (Sussex), John Mooney (North County), Tim Murtagh (Middlesex), Kevin O'Brien (Railway Union), Niall O'Brien (Leicestershire), Max Sorensen (The Hills), Paul Stirling (Middlesex), Stuart Thompson (Eglinton), Andrew White (Instonians), Gary Wilson (Surrey).

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