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PIETERMARITZBURG, Dec 23: Pakistan skipper Waqar Younis looked happier in the knowledge that he has been asked by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to continue his reign as the leader of his country’s team in the forthcoming World Cup.
“I am honoured and feel very proud that the PCB has confidence in me. To lead my country in the World Cup is certainly a big honour for me,” a delighted Waqar said on Sunday.
“The event is big and the demand on us will be even bigger. I am looking forward to it and I am confident that if we play well to our full potential and do not have injuries then we could do well.
“There have been few setbacks but overall I think we have done well as a team and I obviously expected that I shall retain the captaincy.”
Waqar, who led Pakistan for the first time in 1993 in a Test against Zimababwe at Karachi in absence of an injured Wasim Akram, was given the reins after Moin Khan was sacked in April 2001.
Meanwhile, rain forced Pakistan’s only Test warm-up, a three-dayer against South Africa to end in a draw on Monday. Resuming the day on 91 for two, Pakistan struggled to 174 for eight in their second innings with Robin Peterson, the slow left-arm spinner, extending his match haul to 10 wickets by picking up four for 61.
Opener Taufiq Umar saved the day for the visitors with an unbeaten 89 in over five hours. The left-hander’s 193-ball innings was laced with 15 fours.
Scoreboard
PAKISTAN (1st Innings) 174 (R.J. Peterson 6-72).
SOUTH AFRICA ‘A’ 206 (J.A. Rudolph 92; Mohammad Zahid 5-43).
PAKISTAN (2nd Innings, overnight 91-2):
Taufiq Umar not out 89
Salim Elahi lbw b Terbrugge 1
Younis Khan c Cullinan b Langeveldt 34
Yousuf Youhana c T’kile b Langeveldt 0
Faisal Iqbal c T’kile b Langeveldt 0
Abdul Razzaq c T’kile b Peterson 18
Inzamam-ul-Haq lbw b Peterson 9
Kamran Akmal c Prince b Peterson 16
Saqlain Mushtaq lbw b Peterson 2
Waqar Younis not out 0
EXTRAS (LB-1, W-1, NB-3) 5
TOTAL (for eight wkts, 66 overs) 174
FALL OF WKTS: 1-9, 2-87, 3-91, 4-91, 5-129, 6-144, 7-168, 8-174.
BOWLING: Terbrugge 11-1-26-1 (1nb); Zondeki 13-3-36-0 (1nb, 1w); Peterson 19-5-61-4; Langeveldt 13-7-23-3 (1nb); Ontong 10-2-27-0.
RESULT: Match drawn.
