LANCASHIRE’S Sajid Mahmood has been handed another chance to impress the national selectors after he was named in the England Lions squad for next month’s tour of the United Arab Emirates.

The 28-year-old paceman was in the senior one-day set-up for the recent series against South Africa but failed to impress.

He conceded 92 runs from his seven overs in two Twenty20 Internationals and played in just one of the one-dayers, taking 1-41.

However, there is no place in the Lions squad for Lancashire new boy Stephen Moore, which suggests he could be in line for a call-up to the Test squad for next month’s tour of Bangladesh.

Andrew Strauss is expected to sit out the two Tests and that opens up a place in the side for Moore at the top of the order.

England Lions will contest three Twenty20 matches against Pakistan A, as well as Twenty20 matches against the UAE and England.

These will be followed by three 50-over fixtures against Pakistan A in Dubai.

David Parsons, ECB performance director, said: “We have an excellent balance of younger players who are just beginning to stake their claim for international honours and players with plenty of experience at full international or county level in this England Lions squad, and I have no doubt that every member will gain a huge amount from the three-week tour.

“We ran a very successful Performance Programme during November and December and I am delighted that six players from this year’s EPP have been selected for this tour. This represents an opportunity for them to test themselves against quality opposition and to press their case for a place in the England side.”

Lions Squad: Gale (capt, Yorkshire), Bell (Warwickshire), Carberry (Hampshire), Lumb (Hampshire), Taylor (Leicestershire), Kieswetter (Somerset), Davies (Surrey), Trego (Somerset), Tredwell (Kent), Rashid (Yorkshire), Mahmood (Lancashire), Woakes (Warwickshire), Finn (Middlesex), Kirby (Gloucestershire), Wainright (Yorkshire).