He failed to recover from an ankle injury that prevented him from playing in the first two games.
The Indian opener made his fourth hundred in seven matches against Pakistan and has also scored 1,236 runs at an average of 112.36 against them.
Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq won the toss and elected to bat in the first Test against India.
But Pakistan is after sweet revenge on home soil
India's captain said the team is looking forward to playing good, attractive cricket to enthuse fans on both sides of the border.
Pakistan have lost their opening batsman with typhoid for the first Test against India which starts on January 13.
The Pakistan opener is likely to miss the first Test against India, beginning January 13.
Give the captain some advice, M S Dhoni some virtual milkshake or Irfan Pathan an adrenalin boost.
Indian captain Rahul Dravid said Pakistan's ploy of targeting individuals in his side would not work.
Pakistan's senior batsman will miss the final Test against England to attend the funeral of his brother.
Pakistan maintained their 1-0 lead in the three-match series after drawing the second Test against England on Thursday.
England snapped up three late wickets to leave Pakistan 183 for 6 at the close on the fourth day in the second Test, an overall lead of 199 runs.
England's pacemen took four wickets between them to restrict Pakistan to 244 for six at close on the first day of the first Test.
An Australian newspaper reported that Virender Sehwag and Inzamam-ul-Haq mocked at captain Graeme Smith during the Super Series Test.
Inzamam-ul-Haq says the tenure has been the most challenging of his professional career as he was subjected to 'hurtful criticism'
The Sri Lankan batsman will strengthen the Asia XI batting for the second Afro-Asia Cup ODI against Africa XI.
Congratulate the left-hander on reaching the 10,000-run mark in ODIs.
Tendulkar, Ganguly, Azharuddin and Dravid appear in the list.
To bat or not to bat first? This is a question that is bound to trouble both the captains on the eve of the final ODI at Delhi.
The stone narrowly missed Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq who was sitting near the window.
The Indian captain said five bowlers could be picked for the Test after considering the amount of grass on the wicket.
"My feeling is that he is going to get a lot of runs," said the Indian captain ahead of the India-Pakistan series.
Michael Clarke finished on 103 not out to guide Australia to a nine-wicket victory over Pakistan.
Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria has been left out of the one-day squad to keep him fresh for next month's tour of India.
Shaharyar Khan blamed participation in a lot of one-dayers for the side's huge loss in the first Test against Australia.
Akhtar refused to shorten his run-up as suggested by the captain and the coach following Pakistan's sluggish over-rate in the first Test.
Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq is confident of beating India on Saturday when the teams clash in their first ODI on Indian soil in over five years.
Pakistan registered a six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka on the final day of the second Test to level the two-match series 1-1.
Trailing by 270 runs on the first innings, Sri Lanka were 134 for 1, still needing 136 to avoid an innings defeat in the second Test against Pakistan.
Younis Khan scored 124 as to propel Pakistan to 298 for four at the close of the second day, a first innings lead of 90 in the second Test against Sri Lanka.
He had been feeling down since Inzaman gave him and the other bowlers a piece of his mind before the fifth day's play in Multan.
PCB chief executive Ramiz Raja said the wicket will have bounce for the first two days and then will settle down.