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PCB hits back at Waqar Younis

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Karachi: The Pakistan Cricket Board has hit back at Waqar Younis, describing him as "unprofessional" and showing arrogance and indiscipline while quitting as bowling coach of the national team.

"PCB treats all its contractual staff/consultants as professionals but regrets to mention that Waqar has failed to behave in a professional manner and has clearly violated the discipline and breached the contract which evidently documents management's discretion to send him or not on a foreign tour with the team," Saleem Altaf, the Board's Director Cricket Operations, said in a statement yesterday evening.

"PCB respects all its employees, players and consultants but would not tolerate indiscipline and arrogance," he added.

Waqar, who quit hours before he was scheduled to leave for South Africa to join the team, was disppointed that he was appointed only for the Tests rather than the entire tour and accused the Board for mistreating him.

"I was frustrated at the way the Board treated me and I think it is time they learnt to show more respect to former players for their contribution to the country,"he said.

Altaf said Waqar was on unauthorised leave when he went to perform Haj and had contibuted little to the team in the shorter version of the game.

SPORTS: Pakistan cricket's endless misery

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By: Esskayi

These are torrid times for Pakistan cricket. Just a few months before the start of the 2007 World Cup in West Indies, Pakistan is gripped in a major turmoil that began with the forfeiture of The Oval Test against England this August and its end is nowhere in sight.

The latest and the most lethal blow came for Greenshirts in the form of doping bans for their pace stars Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif. The duo was tested positive for banned anabolic steroid nandrolone in October and was withdrawn from Pakistan's Champions Trophy squad before its opening match of the ten-nation contest on October 16.
The news that Shoaib and Asif were involved in a doping scandal came as a bombshell for cricket officials and fans alike as the two are regarded among the key players of the Pakistan team. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) which carried out the dope tests internally in September, after a disappointing tour of England, immediately suspended the players and later formed a three-member tribunal to investigate the case.

The tribunal was headed by former Punjab Governor Shahid Hamid, who is a prominent lawyer and included Pakistan's former Test captain Intikhab Alam and doping expert Dr Waqar Ahmad. As the fans prayed that the star players would be cleared of the charges, the tribunal investigated the issue and found that Shoaib and Asif were guilty of using banned performance enhancing drugs. The tribunal banned Shoaib for two years and Asif for one year and said that the players had the right to appeal against the punishment. The fact the players were given different sentences for the same offence ignited criticism from some quarters and there was a whispering campaign that the authorities may have decided to end Shoaib's career by banning him for two years.


Shoaib is already 31 and has been injury-prone in recent years and by the time the ban ends he would be 33, a ripe old age for fast bowlers. However, the tribunal defended its decision saying that Shoaib was fully aware of the consequences of taking banned drugs as he has been an international sports star for the last ten years, has attended a doping awareness seminar and was dope tested twice before the latest one. They said that the two-year punishment was the minimum sentence they could award to the player according to international regulations. However, the tribunal said that Asif's case was quite different. In its detailed report, the tribunal said that there was reasonable doubt that Asif, who is uneducated, may not have been aware of the anti-doping rules and regulations as he is relatively new in international cricket and comes from a rural background.

Both Shoaib and Asif, who continue to plead their innocence, decided to appeal against the case. The PCB was quick to appoint an appeal committee, which some people expect, might reduce the punishment for the players. But the damage has been done to Pakistan cricket and no matter what decision the appeal committee takes on the issue, the scandal has tainted the sport in this country. For the players, the positive dope tests have come as a rude awakening.


Shoaib Akhtar, one of the biggest stars in the world of cricket, might never be able to feature in an international match if the ban is implemented. His career history has always been far from ordinary. The three most hurtful criticisms to be hurled at a fast bowler are ball tampering, drug-taking and having a suspect action and this 'Rawalpindi Express' has been accused of all of them.
Shoaib was destined for both glory and controversy. The pacer burst on to the Test scene at the age of 22 in 1997, taking 2-47 to help Pakistan to an innings victory over West Indies in Rawalpindi. He soon became a key figure in the national team but after taking 16 wickets in the 1999 World Cup, he was fined and banned by the PCB for returning late from a night out. The setback was soon followed by the first of the criticisms of his bowling action, which led to a suspension following a Test in Australia. His action was questioned again over the next two years before it was finally cleared by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

But Shoaib was not ready to surrender in spite of all the blows. He responded by hurling the first recorded 100mph delivery, in a one-day international against New Zealand in April 2002. The feat transformed him into an international celebrity as now he was officially the fastest bowler in world cricket. Controversy was to return later that year, however, when he was found guilty of ball tampering in a Test against Zimbabwe. After being found guilty of committing the offence again in a one-day international against New Zealand in 2003, he was banned for two matches. It was his fast bowling exploits that caught the attention at the World Cup that year, when he again clocked over 100mph against England. But the tournament was ultimately not a great success and he captured only 11 wickets in six matches as Pakistan failed to reach the second round.

The next problem for Shoaib was fitness, with injury curtailing his tour to Australia in early 2005 and sidelining him for the trip to the Caribbean five months later. He returned in emphatic style to take 17 wickets in the 2-0 Test series victory against England later that year but then after the knee surgery he suffered a stress fracture of the ankle and missed the tour to Sri Lanka.

His importance to the Pakistan attack was underlined when he was awarded a central contract despite missing the Test series in England as he continued to struggle with fitness problems. Akhtar played in the first four matches of the end-of-tour one-day series, claiming nine wickets to take his tally to 208 from 133 matches.

He was selected for the Champions Trophy, only to be withdrawn before the team's first match as the drug revelations became apparent. Asif's story, on the other hand, had no such drama at least before the doping offence. The lanky lad from a small village near Sheikhupura made an unimpressive debut against Australia in January 1995 when he went wicketless in the Sydney Test.
He was rejected by some cricket experts but had a few supporters in men like Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer. The Englishman kept faith in Asif and just a month later termed him as the 'most improved player' in the pool of second string cricketers. Asif staked his claim for a Test comeback by taking ten wickets in a warm-up game against England in the winter of 2005. However, he was unable to earn a spot in the Pakistani line-up in that series which was dominated by Shoaib Akhtar as Pakistan whitewashed England 3-0.

Asif did feature in the one-day series against England and made an instant impression. He got the prized scalp of England opener Marcus Trescothick with his third ball and ended with 2 for 14 following an impressive spell.

The major breakthrough for Asif came in the Karachi Test against India early this year when he claimed seven wickets as the home team sealed a memorable series win against their arch-rivals. The medium pacer then made his mark in the away series against Sri Lanka, taking 17 wickets in two tests, including an 11-wicket haul in a thumping triumph at Kandy. He was expected to play a key role in Pakistan's campaign in England this summer but an elbow injury forced him out of the first three Tests. He returned to play in the forfeited Test at The Oval and took five wickets. How bleak the future is for them, we can but wait and see.

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Sehwag looks to find form

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Rohtak, Haryana: Virender Sehwag will look to come out of a prolonged form slump as well as keep Delhi in the Elite Division when he leads the team in the last Ranji Trophy Super League match against Haryana starting at Rohtak on Wednesday.

The beleaguered batsman's place as opener in the Indian team has come under pressure following a prolonged form slump and the tie might be his last chance to prove his credentials.

The swashbuckling right-hander will also need to carry the team's hopes of preserving its place in the Elite Division to ensure which it needs to grab the first innings lead.

Delhi have eight points while Haryana have seven in Group 'A' which is topped by Baroda (17) followed by Karnataka (15).

Tamil Nadu and defending champions Uttar Pradesh, with four points each, are in the drop zone but an outright win with a bonus point, against Baroda and Andhra (12) respectively could see them make the great escape.

Delhi will also see the return of Gautam Gambhir who was in the Test squad for the recent South Africa tour.

The left-hander acknowledged that there were always "nerves" ahead of an important match.

'Yuvraj could play latter part of Windies series'

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

New Delhi: Middle order batsman Yuvraj Singh could be available for the latter part of the one-day series against West Indies, the sports physiotherapist treating the Punjab cricketer said on Tuesday.

Mithun Joshi said the batsman was in the final phase of recovery and could be fit to play in the second half of this month.

"He (Yuvraj) is in the final phase of rehabilitation. He is doing light fielding, functional agility, netting," Mithun, son of Indian Cricket Board's medical expert Anant Joshi, wrote in a report to the BCCI.

"It is likely he will be able to return to Twenty20 style match play by the 19th of this month. He could be with the team for the preparation for the West Indies series and be available to play in the latter part of the one-day series against West Indies, or for the series against Sri Lanka," Joshi was today quoted by Cricinfo.

Yuvraj has been out of action since the Champions Trophy, during which he picked up a knee injury while playing kho-kho at the nets before the match against Australia in Mohali.

The left-hander said he had worked hard to get fit.

"It's hard to come back so quickly without surgery. I have really worked very hard over the last 40 days. The problem is that it plays on you mentally, especially when fielding. You're wondering whether you might get a recurrence of the injury and that could put you out for a long time.

"I'm about 90-95 per cent fit at the moment. But it's always different being in a match situation. It's just about getting some match practice under the belt. Hopefully I can play three or four practice matches, and then declare myself fit and eligible for national selection," he said.

Can "Little Mosque" Live Up To The Hype?

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"Little Mosque on the Prairie" a Canadian sitcom by talented filmmaker Zarqa Nawaz, launched this week in the midst of a media circus. Does the show live up to the hype?

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January 10, 2007


If self-deprecating humour is a distinctly Canadian characteristic, then Zarqa Nawaz's production of Little Mosque on the Prairie is testament to the rich multicultural heritage in the North. The first of eight episodes of Little Mosque on the Prairie aired last night amid much hype and a baffling amount of media attention, including coverage in various parts of the world (see CNN and BBC for just two examples), a feature story by CNN's Paula Zahn (video clip), a CBC promotional event that involved camels traipsing about in downtown Toronto, and an email alert from CAIR-CAN urging Muslims to watch the show. For those of you who don't know, Little Mosque on the Prairie is a new CBC sitcom featuring a community of Canadian Muslims living in Mercy, a fictional small town in Western Canada. The series has made headlines for its supposed controversial nature - Muslim characters in lead roles on prime time television. With humour to boot.

But much attention creates heightened expectations, and the first episode has proven somewhat underwhelming. In part, this is because the jokes were clichd and unoriginal; in Muslim-only settings, individuals have been cracking the same jokes and making similar associations between 'Muslim' and 'terrorist' to that which was on view in the airport scene with lawyer-turned-imam Amaar Rashid. Watching Muslims quibbling over the management of a mosque or engaging in 'an annual cage match' to figure out the start of Ramadan has become commonplace, so much so that it lacked the oomph one might expect from a show made splashy because of its supposedly humourous element. Perhaps two of the edgier lines were on display when Amaar Rashid is detained by law enforcement officials. "If my story doesn't check out, you can deport me to Syria,"he says, in cheeky reference to the Maher Arar debacle. The official's gruff response? "You don't get to choose which country we deport you to."

Humour is about exaggeration, but some aspects of the show have struck a discordant tone among Muslims, not just because only a single actor, Zaib Shaikh, is Muslim in real life and Sitara Hewitt, who plays Rayyan Hommoudi, co-hosts The Comedy Network's You Bet Your Ass decked out in skimpy attire. One cannot help but note, for example, that the imam leading the congregation in prayer incorrectly recites a verse from chapter 103 of the Qur'an. And some the non-Muslims on the show act in a decidedly un-Canadian manner. Note in particular the mean-spirited right-wing radio show host who baits the new imam in town, calling him Johnny Jihad and accusing him of terrorism to his face. Canadians nation-wide are noted for their remarkable friendliness; even those who know nothing about Islam or Muslims are welcoming of strangers, particularly on a personal level. And of course, resident critic Tarek Fatah had to get in a word or two. He questioned the stereotypical depiction of Muslims as "a group of people that prays and preaches" and "essentially a people whose lives revolve around a mosque".

Interestingly enough, there were voices on both sides complaining about the show before it was even aired. On the one hand, some non-Muslims complained of yet another scheme by Canada's national broadcaster to make Islam palatable to the general public. On the other hand, some Muslims privately expressed concern that the series might make light of their most deeply held beliefs and practices. Having survived the first episode, neither of these fears holds much credence, for the sitcom pokes fun at every character, Muslim or not. And yet it also serves a useful purpose, in that it portrays the interplay between the minority and majority well, giving each a bit of insight into where the other is coming from. To appreciate the humour, one must posses the ability to stand apart from one's deepest commitments, observing oneself with a degree of distance and objectivity as would someone from outside. On watching Little Mosque on the Prairie, a Muslim gains some appreciation for the genuine anxieties some members of the majority group share when it comes to Islam and Muslims, particularly given events around the globe as well as the sensationalized media attention afforded extremist elements within the Muslim community. A non-Muslim get a glimpse of what it's like to be members of a minority group that have only recently immigrated to a new country and are trying to live life and negotiate their identities - individually and collectively - as best they can given the circumstances.

Much of the hype can be attributed to the surprise non-Muslims have that it's possible to pull off a series like this one given the tensions among Muslim minorities and the wider societal contexts in various parts of the world. While it is true that too often Muslims are characterized as frowning bearded mullahs on television, this can only be attributed to the very serious subject matter they are forced to tackle on an almost daily basis. (The drubbing Keith Ellison took on CNN Headline News is just one example.) But Muslim comedy in North America is not a new phenomenon. The Allah Made Me Funny comedy tour with Azhar Usman, Preacher Moss and Azeem Muhammad contains even more explosive content than Little Mosque on the Prairie. Nevertheless, the Canadian Muslim community is much too mature to raise a fuss over a television show, and it's likely the sitcom will prove a conversation starter rather than the cause of offence. Moreover, while CBC deserves credit for airing the series, it isn't as controversial as it's been made out to be, and Canadian viewers - both Muslim and non-Muslim - can only hope that the next episode of Little Mosque on the Prairie is a tad bit edgier than the first.

Cricket's biggest event in 2007

'Cricket World Cup 2007 an opportunity to unite as nation' Port-of-Spain: People of Caribbean should realise the importance of mega-sports events in which the West Indies is seen by the world as one country, Cricket World Cup 2007 Local Organising Committee Chief Executive Officer Anand Daniel says. "We have nine sovereign states with their own characteristics, their own legisaltion, their own terms and conditions for accepting the mega-event. But people should appreciate the world level games give us an opportunity to to be seen as one," Daniel said. About the passage of a legislation to facilitate the staging of the historic event, Daniel said one of the major concerns was how it would impact or impinge on the rights of citizens or businesses. "It was a common question, the other questions were regarding security, customs and immigration, sharing of passenger information and the CARRICOM Visa," he said. ICC World Cricket Cup West Indies CEO Chris Dehring said it was not a time for argument but action as a great opportunity to showcase the country's capabilities was ahead. "We can pick up arguments after it (the world cup) is over. By hosting the Cricket World Cup, we have the chance to showcase our country's and out capabilities to the world in many ways. "There is so much more than sun and sand to see and experience in the Caribbean," Dehring said. Copyright 2006 PTI. All rights reserved. Let the games begin The 2007 Cricket World Cup will be hosted by the West Indies from March 11 to April 28, 2007. It will be contested by 16 nations. The ten Test Match-playing countries qualify for the World Cup automatically, along with Kenya, which has ODI status and five further teams qualified via the 2005 ICC Trophy. The field of sixteen teams is the largest ever for the Cricket World Cup. The teams will be divided into 4 groups, with each group playing its matches at one ground. Group A Australia South Africa Scotland Netherlands Group B Sri Lanka India Bangladesh Bermuda Group C New Zealand England Kenya Canada Group D Pakistan West Indies Zimbabwe Ireland The top two teams from each group will compete in a "Super 8" format, similar to the previous "Super 6" format, from which the semi-finalists will be decided. Source: India Syndicate World Cup 2007 Fixtures - Group stages March 2007 Tue 13 1st Match, Group D - West Indies v Pakistan Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica Wed 14 2nd Match, Group A - Australia v Scotland Warner Park, Basseterre, St Kitts Wed 14 3rd Match, Group C - Canada v Kenya Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia Thu 15 4th Match, Group B - Bermuda v Sri Lanka Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad Thu 15 5th Match, Group D - Ireland v Zimbabwe Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica Fri 16 6th Match, Group A - Netherlands v South Africa Warner Park, Basseterre, St Kitts Fri 16 7th Match, Group C - England v New Zealand Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia Sat 17 8th Match, Group B - Bangladesh v India Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad Sat 17 9th Match, Group D - Ireland v Pakistan Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica Sun 18 10th Match, Group A - Australia v Netherlands Warner Park, Basseterre, St Kitts Sun 18 11th Match, Group C - Canada v England Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia Mon 19 12th Match, Group B - Bermuda v India Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad Mon 19 13th Match, Group D - West Indies v Zimbabwe Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica Tue 20 14th Match, Group A - Scotland v South Africa Warner Park, Basseterre, St Kitts Tue 20 15th Match, Group C - Kenya v New Zealand Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia Wed 21 16th Match, Group B - Bangladesh v Sri Lanka Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad Wed 21 17th Match, Group D - Pakistan v Zimbabwe Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica Thu 22 18th Match, Group A - Netherlands v Scotland Warner Park, Basseterre, St Kitts Thu 22 19th Match, Group C - Canada v New Zealand Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia Fri 23 20th Match, Group B - India v Sri Lanka Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad Fri 23 21st Match, Group D - Ireland v West Indies Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica Sat 24 22nd Match, Group A - Australia v South Africa Warner Park, Basseterre, St Kitts Sat 24 23rd Match, Group C - England v Kenya Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia Sun 25 24th Match, Group B - Bangladesh v Bermuda Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad Invincible Aussies retain Cricket World Cup Johannesburg: Ricky Ponting's Australians shattered World Cup records and Indian dreams in a 125-run win at the Wanderers during the 2003 Cricket World Cup Final. Ponting's majestic unbeaten 140 off 121 balls was the highest score in a World Cup final and Australia's 359 for two was a record total for a title match in cricket's quadrennial showpiece. Glenn McGrath chimed in with three wickets as the Australians skittled India for 234 in 39.2 overs to extend their winning stretch to 17 matches, collected an unprecedented third world title and became the first team to defend the Cup since the West Indies in 1979. "It says a lot about our team," said Ponting. "It's a very, very good team -- we've known that for a long time. But, when World Cups come around, you've got to play your best when it counts, and we've done that." Coincidentally, 234 was the record partnership Ponting and Damien Martyn, not out 88, shared to guide Australia from 125 for two in the 20th over to the record total. Darren Lehmann, who scored the winning runs in Australia's lopsided final win over Pakistan at Lord's in 1999, produced a critical run out and two catches that helped end India's chances. "Yeah, it was nice ... probably a bit overdue," said Ponting, who finished with 415 runs in the series. "I didn't get many (runs) in the leadup games, but I saved it up for the final." "We'd been building up for this. The batters took it upon themselves to stand up and get some runs," added Ponting. "I'm lost for words at the moment." Rain that threatened to send the match into a reserve day started pelting down after the Australians were presented with the Cup and the US$2 million winners' check. The Aussies waved national flags and inflatable kangaroos in a victory lap for the vocal contingent of antipodeans among the 31,779 crowd. "It's a bit disappointing, but all credit to them," Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly said. "It wasn't an easy wicket to bat on early, but they did it. They played like world champions." Ganguly won the toss and sent Australia into bat, hoping his pace attack could get early wickets. It backfired. "Obviously we didn't win here, we're disappointed, but we've done (India) proud," he said. "We couldn't bring the Cup home, but the way we played through the whole series -- although Australia was a better team than us -- we can go home with our heads high." The Australians previously won the World Cup in 1987 and '99 and had six players backing up from the last final at Lord's. India hadn't reached a final since Kapil Dev's team upset the West Indies in 1983. Its only losses here were against Australia. McGrath, in his third consecutive World Cup final, ended the match when he had Zaheer Khan (4) caught by Lehmann. The 33-year-old paceman finished with 3-52. Opener Virender Sehwag scored a run-a-ball 82 before he was run out on a direct hit by Lehmann. His dismissal spelled the end of India's hopes. Sehwag was at the non-striker's end when Tendulkar (4) -- who'd secured the player-of-the-tournament honors with 669 runs before the final -- was caught and bowled by McGrath on the fifth ball. He then shared a 54-run stand off 59 balls with Ganguly (24) before India lost two quick wickets to slip to 59 for three, with Brett Lee and McGrath working in tandem. He blazed three sixes and two boundaries and shared an 88-run stand with Rahul Dravid before he was out attempting a single to make the score 147 for four. Dravid notched 47 before he dragged an Andy Bichel delivery back onto his stumps. Yuvraj Singh (24) tried to hit against the spin of Brad Hogg and was caught in the outfield by Lee, ending his run of chances. Andrew Symonds removed Dinesh Mongia (12) and Harbhajan Singh and Lee increased his tournament haul to 22 wickets when he bowled Javagal Srinath as India slumped to 226 for nine. A 26-minute rain interruption, when India was 103 for three in the 17th over, had earlier threatened to force an abandonment. But as soon as the second innings went into a 26th over, a Sunday outcome was guaranteed. Earlier, Ponting's 13th limited-overs century and his third-wicket stand with Martyn helped propel Australia to its highest total in 534 limited-overs matches. He plundered the attack for eight huge sixes and four boundaries, after notching just one boundary to reach 50 off 74 balls. Exploiting a fast, even wicket similar to conditions at home, the Australians got away to a flyer with Adam Gilchrist (57) and Matt Hayden (37) putting on 105 for the first wicket. Offspinner Harbhajan stemmed the run flow, for a while, when he removed the openers as Australians lost two wickets within 20 runs. But Ponting and Martyn consolidated and helped Australia overhaul the previous highest total in a World Cup final by the 45th over. The West Indies' record total 291 for eight (off 60 overs) had stood since the inaugural World Cup final against Australia in 1975. Ponting became the first Australian to score a century in a World Cup final and only the fourth overall. Martyn, who missed Australia's semifinal win over Sri Lanka with a fractured right index finger, had stroked six boundaries and reached his 50 off 46 balls. Then Ponting took charge, smacking Harbhajan for consecutive sixes over mid wicket when the offspinner was brought back into attack in the 39th over. India's seamers, with a combined 49 wickets in the tournament, bowled too short and failed again against Australians. In the first over, Zaheer Khan conceded 15 runs, including two no balls and six wides. He finished with 0-67 off seven overs. Srinath, who conceded two boundaries and a six to Gilchrist in the eighth over, returned 0-87. Harbhajan had figures of 2-49 to finish with 11 wickets for the tournament.

Pak will do better than India in S Africa: Younis

Wednesday, January 10, 2007


The team gave a good account of themselves in the practice match against Rest of South Africa and Younis, who scored 76, said the team was in a positive frame of mind going into the three-Test series against the Proteas starting in Centurion on January 11.

"It is just as well we started on the front foot because we have only a few days before the first Test. I am confident we can do better than India, who narrowly lost the series here," he wrote in a website.

"We have a strong and well balanced squad and the bowlers in particular are looking good," he said.

India lost the recent series against Graeme Smith's men after winning the first Test in Johannesburg before going down in Durban and Cape Town.

Younis, one of the mainstays of Pakistan batting, has returned to cricket after the death of his brother Farman Ali Khan in a car accident in Germany last month.

The Pakistan vice-captain had also lost his father and another brother not too long ago.

"It has been a very sad time for me and my family after my brother passed away but I am hoping cricket will help me to get through this difficult time in my life," Khan wrote.

Khan said he was trying to keep his mind off the personal bereavement by focussing on the South African tour.

"I am trying to focus on my cricket in South Africa and it will help me take my mind off the sadness. It is important that I concentrate on cricket as we have the World Cup in two months and I have to focus on my game."

Fast bowling concerns for South Africa, Pakistan

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Centurion: South Africa and Pakistan both have concerns over their fast bowlers ahead of the first Test of a three-match series starting at Centurion Park on Thursday.

Pakistan, already with five fast bowlers in their squad, added a sixth in the controversial Shoaib Akhtar as cover for Umar Gul, who suffered with an ankle injury during the team's warm-up match against the Rest of South Africa at the weekend.

Shoaib, cleared by a Pakistan tribunal after being found guilty of using illegal substances - together with team-mate Mohammad Asif - was due to leave Pakistan on Tuesday and it will be a surprise if he plays in the first Test barely 24 hours after his arrival.

Gul, meanwhile, may still be considered.

While Pakistan contemplate their options, Shahid Nazir advanced a strong claim for inclusion by taking five wickets against the Rest of South Africa on a batsman-friendly pitch in Kimberley.

South Africa are expected to be without Dale Steyn, their fastest bowler, who is likely to be rested after playing a significant role in the host nation's come-from-behind win over India in Cape Town last Saturday.

Steyn missed the second Test against India because of a thigh strain and coach Mickey Arthur said he would probably sit out the Centurion match to give him time to make a full recovery.