Islamabad: Veteran Pakistan opener Saeed Anwar has reversed his decision to retire from international cricket in an effort to help lift his country out of its World Cup hangover. "I have consulted my family, friends and religious scholars and on their advice have decided to continue my international cricket. I have conveyed my decision to the cricket board," Anwar said in a statement. The 34-year-old devout Muslim was one of the few Pakistan players to emerge with any credit from the disastrous World Cup campaign in South Africa in which the 1992 champions were eliminated in the first round. Anwar hit a fine century in his side's six-wicket defeat at the hands of arch-rivals India at Centurion on March 1. The opener, with 4,052 Test runs and 8,823 One-day runs, is expected to be selected in the Pakistan squad for the triangular series against Sri Lanka and South Africa in Sharjah from April 1 to 10. Copyright AFP 2001

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