Pakistani leg spinner Mushtaq Ahmed called on selectors on Wednesday to give him a chance to prove his worth against the South Africans in next month's one-day and Test series.

"know I can make their batsmen think with my spin. But first the selectors have to give me a chance," Mushtaq said.

He has just returned home after an outstanding season with English county champions Sussex, for whom he captured over 100 wickets, earning him the British Professional Cricketers' Association's player of the year title.

Pakistan have not picked Ahmed since his last Test appearance at Auckland against New Zealand in February 2001.

His figures were one for 62 and none for 21 in the match won by Pakistan and dominated by off spinner Saqlain Mushtaq, who took eight wickets.

"I have got my confidence back after playing with Sussex and I am getting plenty of grip and rotation on the ball. I feel good enough to take on the South Africans in the one-dayers or tests," Mushtaq said.

The 33-year-old is the first bowler to take over 100 wickets in an English season since England's Andrew Caddick and West Indian Courtney Walsh achieved the feat in 1998.

Chief selector Aamer Sohail has said that Ahmed would be tried out in a practice match against South Africa.

South Africa play a one-day practice match at Lahore on October 1 before starting their revised programme of five one-day internationals and two back-to-back Test matches.

Mushtaq has taken 183 wickets in 50 Tests and 161 wickets in 143 one-dayers.