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Saeed Anwar is likely to be recalled for the two-Test series in South Africa after the national team management sent an SOS to the Pakistan Cricket Board on Wednesday.

The left-hander opening batsman was not considered for selection after last September's ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka despite making himself available.

"The team management has requested that specialist opener Saeed Anwar be flown to South Africa for the two Tests. But we have not taken any decision because several factors have to be taken into consideration before we reach a decision. We don't to make a decision in haste," a PCB spokesman said on Wednesday.

"I am in contact with my fellow selectors but the final decision will be taken on Thursday," Wasim Bari, the chairman of selectors, said.

"The team management feels being self sufficient as far as fast bowlers were concerned. But they feel that they need an experienced hand on top of the order," Bari said.

Saeed, along with several other World Cup probables, underwent a fitness test in Lahore on Wednesday under the supervision of PCB's panel of doctors. According to Dr Meesaq Rizvi, the 34-year-old former Test skipper looked in fine fettle.

Saeed had not played in a Test since scoring a century against minnows Bangladesh in the opening match of the 2nd Asian Test Championship at Multan in August last year.

Meanwhile, controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, once again broke down and ruled out of the Test series against the Proteas with knee trouble, has been asked by PCB to return home.

The spokesman said on Wednesday that Shoaib was being recalled home as a precautionary measure with the World Cup just a few weeks away.

"The team and local doctors in South Africa examined his knees that are sore after playing on softer grounds and he has been advised to return home and get proper rest and treatment by the PCB panel of doctors," the spokesman said.

The PCB spokesman said the first priority of the board would now be to ensure that the injury-prone paceman was fully fit for the World Cup.

"Shoaib will undergo a rehabilitation programme under the supervision of the PCB medical panel once he returns home."

Besides wicket-keeper Rashid Latif is also returning home after missing the last couple of games in the one-day series against South Africa because of knee problems.

Late last month Rashid astounded everyone when he chose to quit Test cricket but made himself available for One-day Internationals. Just days before that announcement he was forced out of the entire series in Zimbabwe with recurrence of an old neck injury.

He was subsequently cleared by specialists in Johannesburg and later by PCB's panel of doctors in Lahore before being allowed to rejoin the squad in South Africa.

Shoaib's latest injury leaves a disarrayed Pakistan side, who have already lost the one-day series to South Africa, with just 14 players available for the Tests at Durban (Dec 26-30) and Cape Town (Jan 2-6).

Embattled Pakistan skipper, Waqar Younis is one of the three specialist speedsters left in the Test party along with Mohammad Sami and Mohammad Zahid. The latter has been all but a passenger on the African Safari.

Wasim Akram and Misbah-ul-Haq, who were in the one-day squad, are also expected home on Saturday.

© Dawn