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Waqar Younis was retained as captain for the forthcoming South African tour in the two Test and five one-day Internationals, when the two teams were named by Wasim Bari, Chairman National Selection Committee Friday.

Bari told newsmen that Rashid Latif, just back from Zimbabwe was also included in the 17-member one-day squad

Bari said the two teams were very carefully selected on this crucial tour as the World Cup follows in February 2003, on these same fast and bouncy South African wickets.

Also included in both the squads is former Pakistan skipper and fast bowler Wasim Akram.

Bari, announcing the squads for five one-day internationals and two Tests, claimed that Wasim had been picked for his experience.

Wasim, 36, is Pakistan's highest wicket taker in Tests and one-day internationals with 414 and 485 wickets respectively, decided to miss the recent Test series against Australia in order to rest. Pakistan lost the series 3-0. He also opted out of the Zimbabwe Test series.

When asked by the newsmen as to why Saeed Anwar was missing from the squad, Bari said that the two openers Taufeeq Umer and Salim Elahi were doing well at the moment in Zimbabwe.

"Saeed, he said, " was among the 30 players selected and with his immense experience, would certainly find a place in the team if the current openers failed to deliver the goods. He added that the youngsters who performed well against the Australians were also in the squads.

The chief selector also mentioned that there will be two wicket-keepers Rashid Latif and Kamran Akmal for the one-dayers, but was all at sea when asked who would be the No.1.

When asked if the selection committee was worried when unfit players especially Shoaib Akhtar broke down at the drop of a hat during a series, the former Pakistan wicket-keeper said that all the players that went on tour left fully fit as recommended by the doctor, and on tour injuries were sure to be incurred.

He said the pace bowling department was strong compared to the spinning department which had only two spinners, Saqlain Mushtaq and Shahid Afridi.

Bari denied that the selection committee was only a rubber stamp of the PCB.

Test squad: Waqar Younis (captain), Inzamam-ul-Haq (vice-captain), Taufeeq Umer, Salim Elahi, Younis Khan, Yousuf Youhana, Abdul Razzak, Wasim Akram, Kamran Akmal (wicket-keeper), Saqlain Mushtaq, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami. Shahid Afridi, Faisal Iqbal, Mohammad Zahid and Hassan Raza.

One-day Squad: Waqar Younis (captain), Inzamam-ul-Haq (vice-captain), Taufeeq Umer, Salim Elahi, Yunus Khan, Yousuf Youhana, Misbah-ul-Haq, Abdul Razzak, Rashid Latif (wicket-keeper), Saqlain Mushtaq, Wasim Akram, Sohaib Akhtar, Mohammad Zahid, Faisal Iqbal, Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Sami.

Itinerary:

Dec 8 at Durban, first one-day international.

Dec 11 at Port Elizabeth, second one-day international.

Dec. 13 at East London, third one-day international.

Dec. 16 at Pearl, fourth one-day international.

Dec. 18 at Capetown, fifth one-day international.

Dec 26 to 30 First Test at Durban.

Jan 2 to 6 Second Test at Capetown

© Dawn