October 22, 2007	Monday	Shawwal 9, 1428

LAHORE, Oct 21: While Yasir Hameed is likely to replace the out-of-form opener Imran Nazir in the third One-day International against South Africa paceman Mohammad Asif has little chance of resuming international cricket after missing the first two ODIs.The third match of the series will be played at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad on Tuesday with the rubber at 1-1 after South Africa won the first match by 45 runs at the Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday and Pakistan winning the second at the same venue by 25 runs on Saturday.

Sources, told Dawn that as the experienced Yasir would open the innings with wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal after the national selection committee released Mohammad Hafeez from the squad and have decided to induct uncapped opening batsman Khalid Latif.Imran failed miserably in the opening two one-dayers. In the first match he made 16 while opening the innings with Hafeez, who scored a 24-ball six.

The selectors then changed the opening pair for the second match by promoting Kamran to open with Imran. That change also failed when Kamran was out for duck in the first over. Imran scored just two on Saturday. Sources further said that Khalid Latif could play in Multan in case Kamran fails to deliver on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, sources said though Asif appeared fit, the team management wanted to give him more time to recover from a nagging elbow problem so that he regains complete fitness ahead of the important tour of India next month.Both teams left for Faisalabad on Sunday.