Soon after arriving at Bloemfontein with the team for the three-day match against Free State, he was taken to hydromed hospital for an xray and a second opinion Dr Wilkinson who has now advised him to start light exercise. The x-ray according to Rashid Latif, shows a marked improvement.

``The doctor has told me that operation is not necessary at this stage and if the movement of the neck does not induce pain then I can even play in the Test'', said Rashid Latif.

The Pakistan captain is obviously disappointed that injury has kept him away from action. He played in the opening game against Nicky Oppenheimer XI and in the four-day match against Griqualand at Kimberly which Pakistan won by 307 runs. He seemed in good touch while making 80 odd runs in the first innings. Things certainly looked very rosy for him but then in the next match at East London he could play only three deliveries and had to pull out of the match. Prior to he match he was hit in practice which may have aggravated the problem.

Consultations with orthopaedic surgeon disclosed that the pain was due mainly because of problem with the discs C3 and C4 in the neck and a disappointed Pakistan captain had to hand over he reins to his deputy Aamir Sohail, the vice-captain.

``I am looking forward to the second Test at Durban. I wish I am fit enough to play in the match. I have started to do a bit of workout and I feel that the movement in the neck is much more free. I have not batted in the nets because of the pain but I shall now try and see whether I can bat without much pain and whether I am able to focus properly with my side on action without any after effects,'' said Rashid.

The mood, he said, in the camp is now a lot cheerful than at Johannesburg during the Test. ``The mugging incident had disturbed our plans and our concentration had wavered because of it. now we have left everything behind and are fully concentrating on the game'', he said.