The 33-year-old is Pakistan’s seventh-highest wicket-taker in Tests, and fourth-highest among spinners, but missed out on the XI for the first Test against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi, with the management opting to name four pacemen.

Shah will rejoin the squad in Karachi on 16 December, ahead of the second Test starting three days after. In the interim, he will work with Mushtaq Ahmed in Lahore, with the legendary Pakistan spinner being appointed spin-bowling consultant last week.

Shah had a tough time of it with the ball in Pakistan’s recent trip to Australia. He conceded 205 runs for four wickets in the first Test in Brisbane, and fared worse in the second in Adelaide, leaking 197 runs and failing to take a wicket.

He did play a fine knock in the second match to record first Test ton, but his returns with the ball were poor Down Under, where he now averages 89.50 in five Tests, against a career average of 30.11.

“It's every spinner's wish to do well in Australia because that raises your image and profile,” he said in Adelaide. “I've put in a lot of hard work. The last time I bowled too fast. And I was bowling at a faster pace than what I wanted to here, too, and I didn't use my variations well.”