Today, both these batsman - Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq - are a permanent feature of Pakistan's test team and have become vital cogs in a strong middle order for Pakistan. They have adequately fit into a middle order that was looking bleak without Inzamam Ul Haq and Mohammad Yousuf.

I believe that now is the time for another young batsman to be selected.

It is time to bring Haris Sohail into the national team fold.

The 23 year old left handed batsman from Sialkot made his first class debut in 2007 as an 18 year old, but he shot to prominence during the 2010-11 season when he amassed 653 runs in 11 matches at an average of 54.4 in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy where he was representing Zarai Taraqiati Bank Ltd.

His tally included 5 fifties and a century - an unbeaten 211, his highest first class score.

Haris Sohail continued his good form in the following season (2011-12) where he was the 4th highest run scorer in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy with 873 runs in 11 matches at an average of 51.4. He smashed 4 centuries that season along with 4 fifties.

During the same season, Haris was also one of the leading run scorers in the Pentangular Cup where he represented Punjab and smashed 311 runs in 5 matches at an average of 44.4 scoring 1 century and 1 fifty in the process.

Haris has been exceptional this season as well. In the on going President's Trophy, Haris knocked his 3rd successive century. He missed the first 3 games of the season as he was away for the Champions League and the on personal leave, but since his return in the game against WAPDA, Haris has been in super form.

In the 6 innings that Haris has played in the President's Trophy thus far, he has scores of 115*, 58*, 3, 117*, 120, and 5.

Haris was selected for Pakistan's tour of Sri Lanka earlier this year but didn't get a chance to play for Pakistan. That at least shows that he is in the selectors' minds.

However, I think its time that he is thought of as a long term feature in Paksitan's middle order and potentially the long term replacement for Misbah or Younis Khan.

It will be difficult for him to break into the test team while both Misbah and Younis are around, though he can benefit plenty by being around the team as part of the squad on the tours to India and South Africa.

His time is now and the selectors will do well by picking him first for the ODIs against India and then for the test tour to South African early next year.