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Left-handed Shadab Kabir was guaranteed a place in the Bangladesh-bound Pakistan team after Taufiq Umer became a doubtful starter, sources said.

Taufiq is down with a knee injury and there was a division in the opinion of the doctors.

"The four doctors are divided in their opinion. Two say he would regain fitness by the next couple of weeks while the two feel he will require more time," sources said.

Taufiq burst into international scene with a century on debut against Bangladesh at Multan in the Asian Test Championship match. "Whatever maybe the case, Shadab is a certainty for the tour," sources said.

Shadab aggregated 680 runs from 14 Patron's Trophy innings that included two centuries and four half centuries.

Twenty three-year-old Shadab, made his debut on the gruelling and demanding tour to England in 1996. Although he made an impression, he failed to cement his place following a string of low scores.

"He is in-form and looks to have matured since he last played for Pakistan. That's the difference a few seasons in domestic circuit can do to a promising player," sources said.

Sources further stated that if Taufiq failed to regain fitness in time, no third opener would be included.

Taufiq's injury might become a blessing in disguise for Naved Latif who stroked a century in only his second one-day at Sharjah while playing as a make-shift opener. He will be named in the middle-order who can be utilized to open the innings in case either Saeed Anwar or Shadab struggle with fitness.

The Pakistan cricket selectors will be naming a 15-man squad next week for the two Tests. Changes will be made for the three one-dayers that follow the Tests.

After an initial round of discussions between the selectors and team officials, consensus has been reached on different teams for Tests and one-dayers. For example, Shahid Afridi and Azhar Mahmood will beef up the squad for the one-dayers but will not be considered for Tests.

Mohammad Sami, the injury-prone paceman, is said to be making recovery and was bowling in full throttle in the camps. He is also certain to win back his place.

Likely Test squad: Saeed Anwar, Shadab Kabir, Faisal Iqbal, Inzamam-ul-Haq (vice- captain), Yousuf Youhana, Younis Khan, Naved Latif, Rashid Latif (wicketkeeper), Waqar Younis (captain), Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar, Abdur Razzaq, Mohammad Sami, Danish Kaneria and Saqlain Mushtaq.

© Dawn