Karachi: Pakistan have included debutant pace bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Khalil in a 17-man squad announced on Monday for their three-Test tour of Australia.

Asif, who has taken 117 wickets in 33 first class matches, is the leading wicket taker on the domestic circuit this season while left-armer Khalil has played for the Pakistan junior and A sides.

?We have picked the best possible balanced outfit for what is going to be a very tough tour. But at the same time the youngsters in the side have a chance to establish themselves on a permanent basis,? chief selector Wasim Bari said.

?Both have a lot of potential and with Shabbir Ahmed injured it was necessary to have a strong pace attack because in Australia the pitches are good for the pace bowlers.?

Shabbir, who has not played since September because of a knee injury, failed to pass a fitness test.

Pakistan leave on Saturday for the tour, which includes Tests in Perth, Melbourne and Sydney followed by a triangular one-day tournament also involving West Indies.

Bari said there would be two changes made for the one-day series in the 17-member squad.

Pakistan have never won a Test series in Australia and suffered a 3-0 whitewash in the last series between the two countries in 2002.

PAKISTAN SQUAD

Imran Farhat, Salman Butt, Yasir Hameed, Younis Khan, Inzamam-ul Haq (captain), Yousuf Youhana, Asim Kamal, Kamran Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Shoaib Malik, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Khalil, Rana Naved, Danish Kaneria. Reserves: Bazid Khan, Rao Iftikhar and Taufiq Umar.