December 05, 2007	Wednesday	Ziqa'ad 24, 1428

KOLKATA, Dec 4: The Pakistan team management and board’s officials interaction with the media personnel here seemed to be quite blurred when grave confusion reigned supreme almost throughout Tuesday as to which player(s) is being sought to minimise the players’ injury-cum-sickness list on the demanding tour.

Media were kept in total dark with regard to the replacement of wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed who will be substituted by Rao Iftikhar, leaving for India on Wednesday to join the squad for the third and final Test starting in Bangalore from Saturday.

Earlier yesterday, Pakistan’s chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed said that paceman Abdur Rauf would replace Sarfraz as asked by the touring team selection committee.

However, in spite of several officials being present here in Kolkata, it was not clearly known who would be flying to India for the Bangalore Test till late evening.

It seems as if the chief selector is helpless in front of the team management because after naming Rauf as replacement no one expected in normal circumstances that Rao’s name would appear in place of him.

Later on Tuesday, Talat Ali, the Pakistan manager and media manager Ahsan Hameed Malik, after receiving final word from Lahore, revealed that Rao, and not Rauf, would leave for India.

Rao will be the second reinforcement in the fast bowling department after Yasir Arafat arrived on the morning of the Kolkata Test, following fitness problems faced by Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami.

Rauf, who turns 29 on Dec 9, had been placed on standby along with Rao and Mohammad Irshad.

Sarfraz, who made an impressive debut in the fifth One-day International in Jaipur 16 days ago after flying out to India as cover for Kamran Akmal, will head home shortly.