Bracewell, with 18 tests to his name, last played for his country a year ago in Bangladesh, having been squeezed out of the packed pace bowling stocks.
But the Black Caps have recalled the 24-year-old for next month's series in the United Arab Emirates, the only change to the team that was victorious in the West Indies earlier in the year.
Opener Peter Fulton is the man to drop out of the 15-strong squad, having sat out the final two tests in the West Indies after a double-failure in the first. In Fulton's absence, the Black Caps appear content to move forward with an opening partnership of Tom Latham and Hamish Rutherford.
New Zealand coach Mike Hesson said the selectors were keen to stick with the bulk of the squad that emerged triumphant from the test series in the West Indies for only the second time in this country's history.
"Newcomers like Mark Craig proved in the Caribbean that they deserved their spot, while others such as Doug Bracewell and Hamish Rutherford had a very strong New Zealand A tour to England and on that basis warrant their inclusion.
"Hamish demonstrated a lot of positives on that England tour. His balance was back and with that came his confidence."
Hesson said Bracewell was extremely fit and had done everything the selectors wanted of him, though he faced a fight on his hands to displace established trio Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Neil Wagner.
"Doug had a very good NZ A tour and we just think that, in the heat in the UAE, his experience and resilience in those conditions will be important."
Mark Craig's inclusion came as no surprise after his form in the West Indies and he will again battle for the spin-bowling duties alongside Ish Sodhi.
"Mark had an outstanding first series in spin-friendly conditions and really stepped up to the level required in test cricket," Hesson said. "Now the challenge for him is to deliver on his second tour when the opposition will know more about him."
Hesson added that his side had a tough ask on their hands in the three-test series, beginning on November 9, with the New Zealand's last test series win against Pakistan coming in 1984.
"Pakistan are an incredibly tough team to play in conditions favourable to them. Our record against Pakistan is actually the worst against any of the test-playing nations, having won just two out of 19 series, both home and away."
Also named today was a New Zealand XI squad to play Scotland and Ireland in two warm-up matches before the one-day international series against South Africa. The 19-strong squad will take on Scotland in Lincoln on October 15 before clashing with Ireland in Hamilton three days later.
The team to play South Africa in three ODIs later in the month will be named after the two warm-up matches.
Black Caps test squad for series against Pakistan in United Arab Emirates: Brendon McCullum (c), Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Mark Craig, Tom Latham, James Neesham, Luke Ronchi, Hamish Rutherford, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson.
New Zealand XI squad for warm-up matches against Scotland and Ireland: Brendon McCullum, Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Dean Brownlie, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Mitchell McClenaghan, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Adam Milne, Colin Munro, James Neesham, Luke Ronchi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Daniel Vettori, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson.
