Asif unlikely for last two ODIs

Mohammad Asif, the Pakistan fast bowler, is likely to be rested from the last two one-day internationals to be played against South Africa on October 26 and 29. The national selectors want to give Asif a proper rest before Pakistan's tour of India beginning in the first week of November.

Asif missed the first three matches of the one-day series, which Pakistan lead 2-1, due to an elbow injury sustained during the second Test against South Africa in Lahore.

"He [Asif] is not certain to play in the last two games because we need him in India for the Tests and one-day internationals and he is a proven performer,"

chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed told Reuters.

Pakistan are also waiting on the fitness of left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman, who is suffering from a groin injury.

Pakistan chasing record 424 target set by SA

KARACHI: The first of the two Test series between Pakistan and South Africa has entered into an interesting stage when Pakistan’s young team is chasing a daunting target of 424 to win and made 146 for three by the close of play on the fourth day with Younus Khan batting on 93.

They are required to score 278 more with seven wickets in hand and besides Younus, there are in-form batsmen - Misbah-ul-Haq, Shoaib Malik and Kamran Akmal - to bat with determination.

After two early dismissals, Younus Khan and Faisal Iqbal got together and fought bravely to take score to 134 when Faisal departed on 44 in the last moments. At stumps, Pakistan were 146 for three with Younus batting at 93 and night watchman Muhammad Asif at one.

Younus has played 99 balls and hit 14 fours and one six in his. With Faisal, he added 114 runs for the third wicket. Faisal faced 69 balls and hit eight fours.

Earlier, South Africa declared their second innings at 264 for seven and set Pakistan a daunting target of 424 to win the match, after Jacques Kallis reached his second hundred of the match. He became the fourth South African to score centuries in each innings of a Test, but his stubborn and flawless unbeaten 100 was in sharp contrast to his 155 in the first innings, during which he was dropped twice.

Other main scorers were Ashwell Prince (45) and Andre Nel (33) where as left-arm spinner Abdul Rehman finished on identical figures of four wickets for 105, in the second innings also, thus claiming eight for 110 in his debut Test. leg-spinner Danish Kaneria captured three wickets.