Umar to lead Patron's XI

Taufeeq Umar, former Pakistan opener, has been appointed captain of the Patron's XI side that is scheduled to take on South Africa in its first warm-up match of their tour to Pakistan. Umar, who has represented Pakistan in 25 Tests and 19 ODIs, has not been able to feature for Pakistan on a regular basis even with a Test average of nearly 40.

The match will also provide selectors to test out a few youngsters viewing the hectic international schedule that lies ahead of Pakistan.

"Umar will lead the Patron's XI, and we have tried to accommodate some youngsters who have done well recently," Salahuddin Ahmed, the chief selector, said.

Asim Kamal, another batsman who has been sidelined even though he has performed well not only on the domestic circuit but also while on international duty, earned a recall to international reckoning by being named in the eleven. Fawad Alam and Yasir Arafat, both allrounders who are representing Pakistan in the inaugural ICC World Twenty20, were named in the initial squad but were later withdrawn and replaced by Mansoor Amjad and Zohaib Khan.

South Africa arrive in Karachi on September 26 for their three Test and five ODIs series to be played in October. The first Test will take place in Karachi from October 1.

Patron's XI squad: Taufeeq Umar (capt), Asim Kamal, Mansoor Amjad, Khurram Manzoor, Zohaib Khan, Babar Naeem, Shahid Yousuf, Rizwan Ahmed, Adnan Raza, Sarfraz Ahmed, Junaid Zia, Anwar Ali, Ahmed Shahzad, Umar Ameen, Uzair-ul Haq