Moin set for shock comeback vs SA

Former captain and wicketkeeper Moin Khan has been recalled to the Pakistan squad for the first Test against South Africa after more than tw...

Former captain and wicketkeeper Moin Khan has been recalled to the Pakistan squad for the first Test against South Africa after more than two-and-a-half years on the sidelines.

The 32-year-old Moin, whose career appeared to be over, last played as captain on the tour of New Zealand in early 2001 before he made way for his long-time rival Rashid Latif.

Kiwis to play five ODIs in Pakista

Islamabad: New Zealand Cricket Board has confirmed tour itinerary for a five-match one-day international series to be played in Pakistan from November 22. All the matches have been scheduled to be played at Faisalabad, Rawalpindi and Lahore while Karachi has been excluded on the request of NZC, Pakistan Cricket Board PCB press release said today. The decision was taken on the lines of South Africa agreeing to tour Pakistan only after PCB agreed to drop Peshawar and Karachi as venues following fears of violence and bomb attacks in the two cities. The first three matches of the series between New Zealand and Pakistan would be played before Eid-ul-Fitr while the last two matches will be played after the festival, it said. PTI

Moin has played 63 Tests and 190 one-day internationals. Latif resigned as Pakistan captain last month shortly after being banned for five one-dayers for claiming a catch which he dropped against Bangladesh. Latif, however, has gone back on his initial decision to retire.

The Pakistan Cricket Board also announced on Tuesday that Yousuf Youhana would lead the side in the first test in Lahore starting on Friday. Youhana takes over from skipper Inzamam-ul Haq, who has a hamstring injury.

Inzamam was annoyed Sunday that his injury seemed to have returned. 8216;8216;It is disappointing to have the recurrence of the injury and it would be a race against time to get full fitness, it8217;s very tough,8217;8217; he said after Sunday8217;s match.

Pakistan have axed batsman Younis Khan, off spinner Saqlain Mushtaq and all-rounder Abdul Razzaq, who all played in the one-dayers against South Africa, from the 16-man squad.

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The squad includes one uncapped player, left-handed middle order batsman Asim Kamal from Karachi, while opener Taufiq Umar is after a knee injury.

South Africa won the one-dayers 3-2. The second and final Test takes place in Faisalabad.

Squad

Taufiq Umar, Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed, Yousuf Youhana capt, Asim Kamal, Moin Khan, Shoaib Akhtar, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Sami, Danish Kaneria, Shabbir Ahmed, Salman Butt, Mushtaq Ahmed, Faisal Iqbal, Kamran Akmal, Misbah-ul-Haq.