KARACHI, May 6: Saeed Anwar was guaranteed a place in Pakistan’s second Test squad but a place for fast bowler’s slot was still vacant.

Saeed will replace Shahid Afridi who got a first-ball duck at Lahore. However, the Pathan had also scored a century and a half century in his last two Tests before the Lahore game.

But there was a tie between Shoaib Akhtar and Wasim Akram. Officials said if Shoaib recovered fully from the swollen ankle, he would retain his place.

Wasim Akram has 414 Test wickets and was primarily rested from Lahore game because of PCB’s rotation policy and the placid track that was prepared for the game.

Shoaib twisted his ankle during the second evening while he was bowling at express pace and had picked four wickets in 25 balls.

In the entire scenario, the team management has forgotten fast bowler Mohammad Sami who grabbed a hat trick during the Asian Test Championship final against Sri Lanka at Lahore in March.

He is unlikely to be considered for selection as the wicket being prepared is barren and likely to assist the batsmen than fast bowlers. Besides, the emergence of Abdul Razzaq has made it difficult for the third pacer to sneak in the team that has turned the clock back by depending on the spinners.

Danish Kaneria took six wickets and Saqlain Mushtaq four at Lahore where Pakistan won by an innings and 324 runs — their biggest victory and New Zealand’s worst defeat.

Meanwhile, Pakistan and New Zealand cricketers are expected to face scorching heat during the second cricket Test, if the forecast of the Meteorological Department is to be believed.

The MET office has forecast that the minimum temperature would hover around 26 and 28 degrees Celsius while the mercury would rise upto 40 degrees Celsius during the second and third session.

“The minimum temperature on Monday was 25.5 degrees Celsius while at 12GMT, 37.5 degrees Celsius was recorded,” a MET office spokesman said.

He added that humidity would be between 53 per cent to 60 per cent during the Test scheduled to start Wednesday.