The National selection committee has picked up 12 boys for the match. Pakistan ``A'' cricket team captain Muhammad Wasim, who led the side efficiently during the recent tour of Britain, has been named to lead the side. coach of that team, Agha Zahid, has been entrusted the same responsibility of the Combined team. Karachi City Cricket Association (KCCA) secretary Syed Siraj-ul-Islam Bokhari has been named manager of the team.
The Combined side has four openers, viz, Saleem Elahi, Ali Naqi, Muhammad Ramazan and Rana Qayyum. The only wicketkeeper of the team is young Javed Qadeer. The team includes three pacemen Shahid Nazir, Abdul Razzaq and Shoaib Akhtar. The last-named had been selected in the Pakistan senior cricket team now playing in the second Sahara Cricket series against India but was dropped at last moment on receiving a complaint about his ``misconduct'' from the Pakistan ``A'' team manager Justice Ijaz Yousaf. The spin department of the side has been entrusted to young off-spinner Shoaib Malik and leg-sinner Ali Husain Rizvi. Besides Captain Muhammad Wasim, another promising middle-order batsman Akhtar Sarfaraz has also been included in the side.
The team consists of mostly the players who had toured Britain with the Pakistan ``A'' side. They are:
Captain Muhammad Wasim, Ali Naqvi, Rana Qayyum, Saleem Elahi, Javed Qadeer (wicketkeeper), Ali Husain Rizvi, Shoaib Malik, Shoaib Akhtar, Abdul Razzaq.
The players who were not in the Pakistan ``A'' team but have been included in the 12-member Combined side are: Muhammad Ramazan, Shahid Nazir, Akhtar Sarfaraz.
The Combined team consists of a majority of players, who have either performed well with the junior sides or have been doing well in the domestic cricket season fro some years. The team is certainly weaker than the South African side in almost all departments of the game. however, the three-day match against a superior side will give the youngsters a chance to prove their worth for national responsibilities.
The Combined team is: Mohammad Wasim (captain), Javed Qadeer (wicketkeeper), Saleem Elahi, Ali Naqvi, Muhammad Ramazan, Rana Qayyum, Akhtar Sarfaraz, Ali Husain Rizvi, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Nazir, Shoaib Akhtar, Abdul Razzaq. Manager: Professor Siraj-ul-Islam Bokhari. Coach: Agha Zahid.