Chief selector and head coach Misbah-ul-Haq said on Saturday the left-handed batsman was picked because of his recent prolific scoring in domestic cricket.

The Sri Lanka series, which is part of ICC's World Test Championship, starts on Wednesday in Rawalpindi. The second Test from December 19-23 will be played in Karachi.

Fawad last played a Test in 2009 against New Zealand in Dunedin, eight months after a terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore which shut the door on international cricket in Pakistan.

Fawad scored a century in his debut Test against Sri Lanka in July 2009. He has scored more than 12,222 runs in a 16-year first-class career at a healthy average of 56.84.

He is one of the two changes Pakistan selectors have made from the 16-man squad, swept 2-0 by Australia.

Fawad replaces Iftikhar Ahmed while left-arm fast bowler Usman Shinwari comes in for young fast bowler Mohammad Musa.

Misbah said Mohammad would remain with the Test squad and continue working with bowling coach Waqar Younis.

"Our thinking is that we need consistency in the team and that's the reason we didn't make a lot of changes for the series against Sri Lanka," Misbah said.

"There should be continuity so that players get confidence. We made changes where we feel it's necessary."

Misbah was given three responsibilities - chief selector, head coach and batting coach - when the Pakistan Cricket Board removed Mickey Arthur and batting mentor Grant Flower after the World Cup. Chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq stepped down.

"The perspective is that it's a one-man show," Misbah said. "I think there should be a clarity on this.

"There are six selectors who closely watch players in domestic cricket and also do work with the players on their technique. They know all the minus and plus of these players very well and my prime job is the head coach."

SQUAD:

Azhar Ali (capt), Abid Ali, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Fawad Alam, Haris Sohail, Imam-ul-Haq, Imran Khan, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Shan Masood, Yasir Shah, Usman Shinwari.

Australian Associated Press