Rawalpindi, Oct 09: Pakistan wicketkeeper Rashid Latif today said he will not play in the two-Test series against South Africa starting later this month. "It is because of family commitments and I have informed the Pakistan Cricket board about my decision," Latif told reporters, a day before the fourth one-day international against South Africa.
However, the 34-year-old said he will be available for the five-match one-day international series at home against New Zealand in November.
Latif has 130 dismissals in 37 Test matches to his credit and also took 218 catches in 164 one-day internationals. He was handed the reins of captaincy after Pakistan failed to go beyond the first round in this year's World Cup in South Africa. He led Pakistan to victory in the four-nation Sharjah tournament and was beaten in the final of tri-series against New Zealand in Sri Lanka.
England edged past Pakistan 2-1 in the three match one-day series in England in June before Latif led Pakistan to 3-0 victory in the home Test series against Bangladesh.
However, Latif was banned for five one-day internationals for claiming a false catch against Bangladesh in the third Test. Kamran Akmal, who represented Pakistan in all the five one-day internationals against Bangladesh, is likely to replace Latif for the two-test series against South Africa, starting in Lahore from October 17. Bureau Report