Fast bowler Umar Gul was named in a 12-member Pakistan 'A' team to face India in the three-day tour opener at the Bagh-e-Jinnah Stadium in Lahore [Images] from January 7 to 9.

Gul, whose last international appearance was also against India, at Lahore last year when he took six wickets in the first Test to guide the hosts to a nine-wicket victory, has regained complete fitness from the back injury that sidelined him for more than 20 months.

He took 20 wickets in the just concluded domestic Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and picked five wickets in two games so far in the ongoing Patron's Trophy.

"I am delighted with the news that I have been named in the squad. It gives me an opportunity to win back my lost place. I think in 20 months, I have lost a lot of ground and it will require my best performance to get back in the team," Gul said on Tuesday.

"It's nice to get a comeback game against India because my last best international performance was also again them. But it is not going to be easy this time because India is a very strong batting lineup but I think I am bowling well."

Hasan Raza, who flopped in the two Tests against England [Images], was retained as the captain of the team that has seven Test cricketers, including forgotten opener Mohammad Wasim and middle-order batsman Asim Kamal.

India will play only one tour match after arriving on January 5 before taking on Pakistan in three Tests and five one-dayers.

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