Fitness test to determine Rana's participation

Whether or not Rana Naved-ul-Hasan will play any part in the forthcoming Test series against England will finally hinge on his performance in a full fitness test next week, according to Bob Woolmer, the Pakistan coach.

"The situation with Rana is that he will have a full fitness test at Canterbury next Thursday and then a decision will be made as regards to whether he stays or not," Woolmer told Cricinfo.

And despite news that Naved-ul-Hasan doesn't need groin surgery and may resume bowling in as little as two weeks' time, making him in theory available for the second Test, Woolmer was more cautious. "My gut feeling is that it will be touch and go if he makes it. We are trying to adopt a policy (slowly) of only taking fit people on tour."

Woolmer confirmed that the likely replacements for Naved-ul-Hasan and Shoaib Akhtar - who is also injured - will be left-arm paceman Samiullah Niazi and legspinner Mushtaq Ahmed. "It (replacements) depends on a variety of factors. Any decision will be made on Thursday next week."

Whatever the outcome of the fitness test, Pakistan will at least take some solace from the news that Naved-ul-Hasan doesn't need groin injury and that his injury is not as serious as initially thought. This was the assessment of Harley Street specialist Dr Gilmore, to whom he was sent for consultation and treatment, according to the PCB.

Following initial tests and scans, there were concerns that he would need surgery on the condition, which would not only keep him out of the series against England, but out of any cricket for at least three months.

Following the latest scan on Wednesday, however, it appears that surgery is not necessary. "We have got positive news from the specialist. He says that Rana has shown improvement and his groin is better," Abbas Zaidi, director PCB, told Reuters.

"He has been given a further period of 15 days to rest and resume bowling again. We are hopeful now he can be considered for selection after the first Test."

The seriousness of Shoaib's injury is also unclear; while Zaidi told Reuters that he would be fit only for the ODIs, Inzamam-ul-Haq, before leaving for England, made several statements indicating Shoaib would be fit for the second Test. Several PCB officials back this assertion though the situation is likely to become clearer when he undergoes a medical examination from the PCB's medical commission to assess his recovery.