Pakistan have named four pace bowlers in their line-up for the first Test against Sri Lanka and three youngsters who have yet to make their Test debut.
Pakistan captain Younis Khan said the 12 players selected for the match, which begins on Saturday, includes opener Khurrum Manzoor and pace bowlers Sohail Khan and Mohammad Talha, untried at Test level.
Manzoor and Khan have played one-day internationals but Talha is yet to play at any level for Pakistan.
"We wanted a lively and sporting pitch for the match and the bowling is our strength," Younis told a news conference on Friday.
"So we have picked five specialist bowlers in our 12."
Senior batsman Younis is leading Pakistan in his first full Test series after replacing Shoaib Malik as captain last month after Pakistan lost a home one-day series to Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka toured Pakistan for the ODIs and are now playing two hastily arranged Tests after India pulled out of a full tour in December following the Mumbai terror attacks.
Younis, who had refused the captaincy after the 2007 World Cup, made it clear he had taken up the challenge without any conditions.
"In the past whenever I was offered the captaincy I set my conditions," he said. "This time I have come in without any conditions."
The batsman
"When Imran retired, the team he built reigned supreme for the next eight years," said Younis. "I also want to leave behind a legacy of a team which remains among the top sides."
Pakistan is playing its first Test after 14-months after Australia, the West Indies and India pulled the plug on scheduled tours mainly due to security concerns.
Sri Lanka's Mahela Jayawardene, set to step down as his country's captain after the series, said he was confident about his batting form.
"I see this series as any other series. I have enjoyed leading my country but now I want to contribute more as a player," he said.
"It's a good opportunity for me to executive my batting properly,"
Pakistan's 12 for the first Test: Younis Khan (Capt), Misbah-ul-Haq, Salman Butt, Khurrum Manzoor, Shoaib Malik, Faisal Iqbal, Kamran Akmal, Sohail Khan, Umar Gul, Mohammad Talha, Yasir Arafat, Danish Kaneria.
Sri Lanka (from): Mahela Jayawardene (Capt), Kumar Sangakkara, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chamara Kapugedera, Tharanga Paranavitana, Thilan Samaraweera, Malinda Warnapura, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, Ajantha Mendis, Dilhara Fernando, Farveez Maharoof, Thilan Thushara, Suranga Lakmal, Prasanna Jayawardene.