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| Sunday, 1 December 2002 |
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Akram returns to Pakistan Test team for South Africa tour KARACHI, Nov 30 - Famed pacer Wasim Akram was included Friday in the Pakistan Test side selected for next month's tour of South Africa, but seasoned opener Saeed Anwar and wicketkeeper Moin Khan failed to gain places. Pakistan Cricket Board chief selector Wasim Bari announced a 17-man one-day and 16-man Test squad for the tour, during which Pakistan will play five one-day games and two Tests. "We have picked the best side to play a formidable South Africa and Wasim has been given a chance to perform in the Tests after considering conditions in South Africa," Bari told a press conference. Akram, who opted out of Pakistan's Test series against Australia last month after saying he would concentrate on his one-day form, is currently playing in the side's one-day series in Zimbabwe. But earlier this month he changed his mind and announced his availability for tests in South Africa. Akram has taken 414 wickets in 104 Test matches, but has played only six Tests for Pakistan in the last two years due to injury. Anwar, who on Thursday was named in Pakistan's 30 probables for next year's World Cup, was not named in either squad for the South African tour. "Anwar has been given the full opportunity to stage a comeback in the side but he did not play in the trial games and would have to prove himself to get into the World Cup side," Bari said. "Our openers Salim Elahi and Taufiq Umer are giving good starts to Pakistan in Zimbabwe so we have continued with them." Khan, a wicketkeeper and former captain, was also ignored. "We have picked Latif in the one-day side and it's up to the team management in South Africa whether they play him or Kamran Akmal," Bari said. Latif on Wednesday announced his retirement from Test cricket but said he would continue to play in one-day matches. Pakistan, currently playing one-day series in Zimbabwe, will travel to South Africa next week. The first of the one-day games will be played at Durban on December 8. Squad (Test): Waqar Younis (captain), Inzamam-ul Haq (vice captan), Taufiq Umer, Salim Elahi, Younis Khan, Yousuf Youhana, Abdul Razzaq, Wasim Akram, Kamran Akmal, Saqlan Mushtaq, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami, Shahid Afridi, Faisal Iqbal, Mohammad Zahid and Hasan Raza. Squad (One-day): Waqar Younis (captain), Inzamam-ul Haq (vice captan), Taufiq Umer, Salim Elahi, Younis Khan, Yousuf Youhana, Rashid Latif, Abdul Razzaq, Wasim Akram, Kamran Akmal, Saqlan Mushtaq, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami, Shahid Afridi, Faisal Iqbal, Mohammad Zahid and Misbahul Haq. One-day international matches programme: December 8 Durban, December 11 Port Elizabeth, December 13 East London, December 16 Paarl, December 18 Cape Town Test programme: First Test Dec 26-30 Durban, Second Test Jan 2-6, 2003 Cape Town. |
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