Taufeeq Umar to don gloves for lead-up game

JOHANNESBURG (South Africa), February 3: Wicketkeeper Rashid Latif will be rested for Tuesday's 50-over-a-side lead-up World Cup match against Gauteng at Lenasia as the team management wants to give an opportunity to Taufeeq Umar have a feel of keeping wicket.

The decision was made after the Pakistan cricket team underwent another demanding and tough training session at the Wanderers on Monday.

"Rashid, like all the other players, is absolutely fit. But we want to give Taufeeq an opportunity to keep wicket so that he has a feel of the gloves. The idea is to be prepared for everything," Pakistan manager Shaharyar Khan said.

The team manager said it has been decided by the coach and the captain that all the 15 boys here will be given opportunities to play in the lead-ups before the World Cup matches.

"Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar and Saleem Elahi missed Saturday's opener. Hopefully they will return Tuesday. We are following the policy of rotation," he said.

He, however, said players like Saeed Anwar, Abdul Razzaq and Azhar Mahmood will play in all the lead-up matches.

"The three boys are coming after a lay-off. They are fit but naturally lack match fitness. They deserve full opportunity to get match fitness and reclaim their best touch," he said.

During the 210-minute training session, the boys had a physical training and fielding session for about 100 minutes and then afterwards had nets.

Samiul Hasan
Media Manager
Pakistan Cricket Team
February 3, 2003