Rashid Latif will return home after consulting specialists in Johannesburg, South Africa, for his neck and back injuries. Rashid arrived in Johannesburg Monday evening. No replacement for Rashid will be flown to Zimbabwe.

"The idea behind calling him back is to help him regain fitness under the supervision of PCB panel of doctors. Naturally, they (PCB panel of doctors) will have all the opinions of the specialists along with the tests reports of the injuries that would help them (PCB panel of doctors) constitute a rehabilitation programme for him," the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Lt Gen Tauqir Zia said.

PCB panel of doctors have been instrumental in reviving the careers of pacemen Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Zahid besides helping Yousuf Youhana and Inzamam-ul-Haq take the field again.

In the meantime, the PCB will also seek a report from Pakistan physiotherapist/trainer Dennis Waight to determine if Rashid Latif was injured prior to his departure for Zimbabwe. According to players contract clause 8.7, the player can be fined upto $1000 who reports unfit or is not upto the fitness standards required for international cricket. The team phyio/trainer and doctor shall determine the amount of fine.

Samiul Hasan
G.M - Media
November 12, 2002