Pakistan wicket-keeper Rashid Latif has been given the all-clear to continue his career after fears that he might have to retire because of a neck injury.

Latif pulled out of the current tour to Zimbabwe after doctors suggested that the neck vertebrae problem could result in partial paralysis if he continued playing.

The 34-year-old flew to Johannesburg for further tests and has now been told that the injury is not as severe as originally diagnosed, and will respond to treatment.

He played in a club match in Karachi on Sunday and now hopes to return to the national team in the near future.

"I just wanted to check for myself how I felt. Thank God, I did not feel any problem at all despite the fact I did some running in the field," he said.

"I am extremely hopeful of playing the one-day series in Zimbabwe and South Africa. If I am not able to do that then I would go for the Tests in South Africa," he said.

Latif denied suggestions that he had kept team officials in the dark about his injury before the Zimbabwe series.

"I would never hide my injury because it would be a loss to the team.

"Actually the problem arose when I had nets in cold and rainy conditions in Harare and I felt a sudden numbness in my left shoulder," he said.

Latif has taken 102 catches and made 10 stumpings during a 34-Test career, as well as scoring 1,277 runs.