Injured Pakistan paceman Umar Gul may not be fit for the second Test against India which could force the team management to recall Rao Iftikhar Anjum as a cover, said Chief Selector Salahuddin Ahmed on Friday.
Tendulkar out in the nineties again Three runs shy of his 42nd century, the Mumbai batsman dragged an Umar Gul delivery onto his stumps and departed for 97 in the fourth ODI against Pakistan in Gwalior. For the sixth time this year, and second in the ongoing series, he was out in the nineties.
Pakistan lost the one-day series in South Africa 3-1. They also lost the Test series 2-1.
Pakistan included injured fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Umar Gul in their 15-man squad for next month's World Cup.
The veteran faltered in the nervous nineties for the 13th time in his career when fell for 99 against Pakistan in the second ODI.
Iftikhar will fly out on Wednesday to join the team for the last three ODIs.
Seamers Rao Iftikhar and Umar Gul shared six wickets and Mohammad Yousuf hammered a century to guide Pakistan to a 25-run win over South Africa in the second one-dayer at the Gaddafi stadium on Saturday.
Pakistan have lost batsman Mohammad Yousuf and all-rounder Shoaib Malik for the first Test against South Africa.
Although he did nothing of note in the Twenty20 World Cup final against India on Monday, Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi still emerged as the tournament's most valuable player (MVP).
A half-century by Imran Nazir and three wickets from Umar Gul helped Pakistan beat New Zealand by six wickets in the first semi-final.
Wicketkeeper Moin Khan was also included in the team but speedster Umar Gul was left out.
Pakistan would continue with the system of central contracts for its players except for those with fitness or bowling action problems
"There have been problems with his travel schedule and he will not be able to leave before the first test," Saleem Altaf, director of cricket operations, told Reuters.
Pakistani cricket authorities have decided to rush fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar to South Africa to join the team before the first Test in Johannesburg which starts on Thursday.
The Pakistan fast bowler was suffering from a "slight niggle" in the back, but is expected to play in Rawalpdini.
India, who lead the series 2-1, retained the side which won the third one-dayer in Lahore.
Indian team Media Manager G S Walia said the team was given an off day as the members had travelled yesterday and were tired.
Pakistan's batsmen will find the going difficult on their tour of South Africa after playing on slow tracks at home against the West Indies, the team's young paceman Umar Gul said on Tuesday.
Batsman Faisal Iqbal and pace bowler Umar Gul were included in the 16-man squad for the final Test against India, starting on Sunday.
Pakistan's skipper believes Brian Lara has the charisma and batting form to inspire the West Indies to a series levelling win in the second Test.
The Pakistani pacer, who took five wickets, said the moisture in the pitch and the overcast conditions had helped him.
Pakistan made 39 for one after pacer Umar Gul took five for 65 to help skittle out West Indies for 206 on day one of the first Test.
The South Africa-born batsman scored his fifth Test century as England ended Day 1 in the third Test against Pakistan on 347 for 6.
Opener Phil Jaques scored an unbeaten half-century as Australia 'A' struggled to 120 for six on the opening day of a four-day unofficial Test against.
The Pakistan pacer, who is down with hip injury, has been sent back to Lahore for treatment and rehabilitation.
The Pakistan A team, which will take on India in a three-day warm up game, includes seven Test cricketers.
Afridi will captain a 14-man squad for the December 13-21 tournament also involving India and Sri Lanka.\n\n
India's young fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has added his name to the record books after capturing the most T20 International wickets in a calendar year. Bumrah, who only made his T20I debut in January against Australia at the Adelaide Oval, has taken 28 wickets for India in the game's shortest format from 21 matches.
New Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer has asked Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami, Shabbir Ahmed and Umar Gul to cut down their run-ups in the one-dayers.
World Cup-winning captain Imran Khan has been named mentor of Pakistan Super League franchise Peshawar Zalmi. The former pace ace, who is now chief of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, a political party, returns to cricket after a break of over two decades.
Darren Ganga steered the West Indies to 191 for 6 at close on day 2 of the third Test after Pakistan were out for 304 in the first innings.
The 19-year-old Pakistan seamer said he just followed the team management's instructions to bowl "wicket to wicket".
PCB chairman Tauqir Zia's son pulled out of the team as he 'has to prepare for his exams'.
The 20-year-old is hoping to get advice from Imran, who had to stop bowling for over two years due to a stress fracture in his left shin bone.
The Pakistan fast bowler will receive treatment on a career-threatening back injury that has kept him out of action since April.
Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the fourth One-Day International on Wednesday in the UAE to clinch the ODI series, which is their seventh One-day series win in the year.
Tainted fast bowler Mohammad Amir was named in Pakistan's squad for the upcoming Asia Cup and the Twenty20 World Cup even as seasoned opener Ahmed Shehzad and veteran bowler Umar Gul were shown the door.
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