Wicketkeeper Rashid Latif will return home early Sunday morning after undergoing final medical checkups for his neck injury in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Rashid, upon his arrival, will be put through various medical tests under the supervision of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) panel of doctors in Lahore in accordance with the findings of the medical tests and opinions of the South African specialists.

"The PCB wants Rashid Latif to be fit for the South African tour and then for the World Cup. In order to achieve that, the PCB would provide all possible facilities to Rashid", Chairman of the PCB Lt Gen Tauqir Zia said.

He added, "Since Rashid was to return from Harare via Johannesburg, we thought it would be useful if Rashid took a stop-over in Johannesburg and consult the specialists there".

The Pakistan cricket team will arrive in South Africa on December 2 where the first one-day of the five-match series will be played on December 8 at Durban.

Paceman Mohammad Sami has been held back by the team management after securing clearance from the Selection Committee. He will now be available for selection in the five-match one-day international series against Zimbabwe that begins in Bulawayo November 23.

"Sami has been included in the team on the request of the team management who felt that the fast bowler was bowling well and had adjusted to the conditions in Zimbabwe", Chairman of Selectors Wasim Bari said.

Meanwhile, batting coach Hanif Mohammad and Hasan Raza would return from Zimbabwe on November 21 while the one-day specialists - Wasim Akram, Misbah-ul-Haq and Azhar Mahmood - will leave for Harare on Saturday morning. They will join the squad in Bulawayo on Monday.

Samiul Hasan GM Media November 15, 2002

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