Summary Samir Patel has replaced injured Zafar Ansari in England's squad to face Pakistan in UAE.
LONDON (AFP) - Nottinghamshire all-rounder Samir Patel has replaced Zafar Ansari in England s squad to face Pakistan after Ansari dislocated his left thumb, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced on Wednesday.
The last of Patel s five Test appearances came in India in 2012, but the 30-year-old will now join the squad for the forthcoming three-Test series in the United Arab Emirates.
Uncapped left-arm spinner Ansari, 23, hurt himself while playing for his county Surrey against Lancashire at Old Trafford last week, just hours after his first Test call-up.
Patel admitted he figured his England chance had come and gone and that his recall came out of the blue.
"I didn t think this day would come again," he said.
"I certainly wasn t expecting a Test call as I thought that door had probably closed for me. I feel sorry for Zafar but I hope I can make the most of the chance I ve been given."
England national selector James Whitaker said he felt sympathy for Ansari.
"The timing of this injury, on the day his selection was announced, was particularly cruel for Zafar and he is naturally extremely disappointed to have to pull out of the tour," said Whitaker.
"As a left-arm spinner and a middle-order batsman, Samit is a similar type of player to Zafar and his previous international experience, and in particular, experience of performing for England in sub-continental conditions will be an extremely useful asset to the squad in the UAE."
Ansari saw a hand specialist on Tuesday and underwent an MRI scan. He is due to undergo rehabilitation on his injury and will be re-assessed in around three weeks.
England, who beat Australia 3-2 in this year s Ashes series, will play three Tests against Pakistan in October and November, followed by four day/night one-day internationals and three Twenty20 matches.
Revised England Test squad:
Alastair Cook (Essex, capt), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), James Anderson (Lancashire), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Jos Buttler (Lancashire, wkt), Steven Finn (Middlesex), Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire), Samir Patel (Nottinghamshire) Liam Plunkett (Yorkshire), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Ben Stokes (Durham), James Taylor (Nottinghamshire), Mark Wood (Durham).
