Test right-arm leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmad, who had to come back from Zimbabwe due to a recurring knee-trouble, will again go to South Africa on Saturday to reinforce the Pakistan cricket team on a request from the tour selection committee.

Mushtaq Ahmad would be strengthening the spin department and replacing vice-captain Aamir Sohail who has a hairline fracture in his left-hand thumb. Besides being an opener, Aamir Sohail is also a left-arm spinner. Mushtaq Ahmad played in the two Tests against Zimbabwe.

A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesman said on Friday that the decision to send a replacement was taken by the two national selectors Zaheer Abbas and Shafique Ahmad ``Papa''.

The PCB spokesman also said that young paceman Shoaib Akhtar had returned home a few days ago as he had to withdraw from the team due to knee-injury.

The Test off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq has damaged his finger during practice sessions and he would not be playing in the forthcoming one-day international matches of the series.