Ian Bell omitted from England squad for limited-overs series in UAE

A chance for uncapped spin bowler Danny Briggs and batsman Jos Buttler to prove themselves in UAE conditions. Audio: Sports round-up, Feb 7

Ian Bell, who failed to impress in the Test series against Pakistan, has also suffered poor form in one-day cricket in recent times.

DUBAI // England selectors on Tuesday dropped Ian Bell from the limited-overs squad against Pakistan.

They included uncapped Hampshire spinner Danny Briggs and Somerset batsman Jos Buttler.

Bell, the gifted middle-order batsman, was omitted having passed a score of 50 only once in the last 14 one-day international (ODI) innings.

Paceman Tim Bresnan, meanwhile, returns to the 16-man squad after missing the Test series due to elbow injury.

Pakistan recorded their first ever clean sweep against England when they won the third Test by 71 runs on Monday.

The ODI series begins from Monday in Abu Dhabi.

Seam bowler Stuart Broad will lead England in the three Twenty20 games, which will be played after the ODI series.

Buttler made his Twenty20 debut against India last year, but is yet to play in an ODI.

Buttler and Briggs spent the winter with the England Performance Programme in India and played for the England Lions in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Geoff Miller, the national selector, said both ODI and Twenty20 squads have experienced international players and younger players who have performed strongly for the England Lions in recent months, and deserved an opportunity to further prove themselves against quality opposition.

"Playing against Pakistan in the UAE will be challenging," Miller said. "But it is important that these players continue to develop their skills so that we are able to make strides in limited-overs cricket, particularly on the subcontinent."

The selectors retained Kevin Pietersen and Eoin Morgan, despite the pair scoring only 66 and 82 runs respectively in the six Test innings against Pakistan.

England will play the England Lions in a warm-up match on Friday before the ODI series.

ODI squad Alastair Cook (captain), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Danny Briggs, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Jade Dernbach, Steven Finn, Craig Kieswetter, Eoin Morgan, Samit Patel, Kevin Pietersen, Graeme Swann, Jonathan Trott.

Twenty20 squad Stuart Broad (captain), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Danny Briggs, Jos Buttler, Jade Dernbach, Steven Finn, Alex Hales, Craig Kieswetter, Eoin Morgan, Samit Patel, Kevin Pietersen, Graeme Swann.

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