By Qaiser Mohammad Ali, IANS
Bangalore : A day after Pakistan team manager Talat Ali announced that fast bowler Abdur Rauf would join the team for the third Test against India here, it is now decided that Rao Ifthikhar Anjum will be arriving instead.
Ali, who had announced the decision to call the Punjab bowler in Kolkata Tuesday, said here that Rao is coming before the third and final Test starts at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium Saturday.
Ali did not give any reason for the change that apparently was decided upon late last night by the team mangement.
Rao Ifthikhar will replace second wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed, who is returning home.
“Rao Ifthikhar is now coming for the third Test and not Abdur Rauf,” Ali told IANS soon after arriving from Kolkata.
Interestingly, Pakistani chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed, who was in Kolkata to watch the second Test that ended in a draw, was a part of the team management’s earlier decision to summon uncapped Rauf.
Rao Ifthikhar had played in the recent One-Day International series in India that Pakistan lost 2-3.
Fast bowler Umar Gul, who complained of a recurring back problem, has already returned to Pakistan. All-rounder Yasir Arafat replaced Gul hour before the start of the second Test in Kolkata on Nov 30, but was not played.
The Pakistani team has been besieged by a spate of injuries and illness. The team management found it difficult to find a fit eleven in Kolkata.