Pakistan have named four pace bowlers in their line-up for the first Test against Sri Lanka [ Images ] and three youngsters who have yet to make their Test debut.

Pakistan captain Younis Khan [ Images ] said the 12 players selected for the match, which begins on Saturday, includes opener Khurrum Manzoor and pace bowlers Sohail Khan [ Images ] 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 [ Images ] 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 [ Images ] pulled out of a full tour in December following the Mumbai terror attacks [ Images ].

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 said he wanted to emulate former captain, Imran Khan [ Images ].

"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 [ Images ], the West Indies [ Images ] and India pulled the plug on scheduled tours mainly due to security concerns.

Sri Lanka's Mahela Jayawardene [ Images ], 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 [ Images ], Khurrum Manzoor, Shoaib Malik, Faisal Iqbal [ Images ], Kamran Akmal, Sohail Khan, Umar Gul, Mohammad Talha, Yasir Arafat, Danish Kaneria.

Sri Lanka (from): Mahela Jayawardene (Capt), Kumar Sangakkara [ Images ], Tillakaratne Dilshan [ Images ], Chamara Kapugedera [ Images ], Tharanga Paranavitana [ Images ], Thilan Samaraweera [ Images ], Malinda Warnapura [ Images ], Muttiah Muralitharan [ Images ], Chaminda Vaas [ Images ], Ajantha Mendis [ Images ], Dilhara Fernando, Farveez Maharoof, Thilan Thushara, Suranga Lakmal, Prasanna Jayawardene [ Images ].