Khalid Latif to lead Pakistan in Asian Games

Pakistan's one-day batsman Khalid Latif was named Wednesday to lead a young team when cricket makes its debut at the Asian Games in China this year.

The 24-year-old, who has played in five one-day and five Twenty20 matches for Pakistan, will lead a 15-man team in the November 12-27 Games in the city of Guangzhou.

Sana Mir will lead the women's team. The Guangzhou Games will be the first time that cricket features in the Asian Games, held every four years.

In June, India announced it would field neither men nor women's cricket teams at the Games because of prior commitments.

Pakistan has decided to send a second-string team because their main players will be involved in a Test and one-day series against South Africa. Sri Lanka will also send a second-string side.

Bangladesh, South Asia's other Test nation, has a home one-day series against Zimbabwe in November and will also send its second stringers.

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) had expressed disappointment over India's decision to withdraw from the competition.

Squad: Khalid Latif (capt), Sharjeel Khan, Sheharyar Ghani, Azeem Ghumman, Akbarur Rehman, Naeem Uddin, Naeem Anjum, Usman Qadir, Sarmad Bhatti, Aizaz Cheema, Lal Kumar, Muhammad Irshad, Raza Hassan, Bilawal Bhatti, Jalat Khan