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KARACHI, Nov 17: Pakistan's champion wicket-keeper/batsman Rashid Latif has been given a green signal to resume playing, quashing fears that his cricketing career was over.

Rashid was forced out of the current Test series last week in Zimbabwe with recurrence of an old neck problem.

The 34-year-old stalwart told Dawn Sunday that doctors in South Africa gave him the 'go ahead' to return to active cricket within a week after extensive physiotherapy considerably eased the discomfort in his neck and left shoulder.

"I am going to Lahore on Tuesday where PCB's panel of doctors will examine me whether I can rejoin the Pakistan team at the earliest," Rashid said. "I had already faxed the reports of the South African specialists to the PCB."

Rashid, who returned home Saturday night, was sent to Johannesburg (South Africa) on the recommendation of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)'s chairman, Lt Gen Tauqir Zia, for a thorough check up by specialists.

"The doctors in South Africa have told me that I can join the team in Zimbabwe by the 23rd of this month for the one-day series," Rashid said.

PCB took a timely decision to contact the United Cricket Board of South Africa and arranged for appointments with specialists in Johannesburg and Pretoria.

The South African specialists, Dr Carl S van Heerden (a neurosurgeon) and Dr Thys de Beer, an expert in shoulder injuries, after conducting three days of comprehensive tests, which included scans and related examinations came to the conclusion that there is nothing seriously wrong with Rashid.

Cricket circles here were anxious when initial reports from Harare indicated that Rashid's playing career was threatened by a neck problem that could have paralysed the former Pakistan skipper for ever.

Rashid, a salient part of Pakistan side since his comeback after a three-year hiatus in April 2001 when he was kept out by his arch rival Moin Khan, vehemently denied that he was injured before the team left for Zimbabwe.

"Actually the problem arose when I had nets in cold and rainy conditions in Harare. I felt a sudden numbness in my left shoulder. "Then I realised that something was seriously wrong here and that I shouldn't play until I felt fine. At first I was told my injury was a career threatening one," Rashid explained.

On instructions of Pakistan coach Richard Pybus and physiotherapist Dennis Waight, an initial diagnosis indicated the cervical nerves in Rashid's neck were affecting his left shoulder.

"I could risk permanently paralysing my left shoulder if I continued playing and it left me worried which is why I opted to pull out of the Zimbabwe tour," a worried Rashid said.

Rashid also appeared as a guest player in a Ramazan cricket tournament at UBL Sports Complex Sunday.

"I just wanted to check for myself how I felt. Thank God, I did not feel any problem at all despite the fact I did some running in the field," Rashid noted with satisfaction.

Rashid sounded optimistic as regards his rejoining the Pakistan squad after PCB's panel of doctors, Tauseef Razzaq, Meesaq Rizvi and Sohail Saleem, examine him on Tuesday.

"I am extremely hopeful of rejoining my team-mates for the one-day series in Zimbabwe and South Africa. If not, then my target would be the Tests in South Africa," he hoped.

Rashid further more praised Kamran Akmal, his understudy who is playing in Zimbabwe Tests. "Kamran is a fast learner and is capable of improving further. I see a bright future for this kid."

Rashid, who has played in 34 Tests and 140 One-day Internationals since his debut in 1992, expressed the hope that he will play in the World Cup early next year. "I want to play in the World Cup in South Africa and hopefully Pakistan will do very well there."

Rashid was on the sidelines during the last World Cup in England three years ago, having played in the unsuccessful campaign in 1996, hosted jointly by Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka.

Pakistan lost a tense quarterfinal to old rivals India in Bangalore by 39 runs with Rashid hitting two sixes in a run-a-ball innings of 26 before he was stumped by Nayan Mongia off slow left-armer Venkatapathy Raju.

© Dawn