England selector James Whitaker says former Hampton School student Zafar Ansari is not in the England Test squad bound for Abu Dhabi to make up the numbers.

The 23-year-old left arm spinner was named in the party set to take on Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates next month after a spectacular season for Surrey.

Ansari, who featured for Surrey Championship Premier Division side Weybridge earlier in his career, has taken 44 wickets and scored more than 700 runs in first class cricket this summer.

His efforts have helped land Surrey a return to the LV= County Championship top flight and a berth in this Saturday's Royal London One-Day Cup final at Lord's.

England head to the UAE on September 30 to play three Test matches, four ODIs and three T20 matches with Pakistan.

And Whitaker believes Ansari, who is not in either limited over squad, can push fellow spinners Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali for a Test starting spot in conditions that should suit him.

"The challenge we face against Pakistan will be very different and the composition of our squads reflects the conditions we expect to encounter in the UAE," he said.

"Zafar Ansari’s potential excites us and he will provide strong competition for Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali in the Test squad after enjoying an excellent domestic season with both bat and ball for Surrey.”