Inzamam ruled out of Boxing Day Test

Pakistan's hopes of putting up a better display in the Boxing Day Test received a severe jolt when Inzamam-ul-Haq was ruled out of the game due to a back injury.

According to a report in Reuters, Inzamam said: "I have been advised to rest for three weeks by doctors. My back is sore and hurting." The injury also makes him a doubtful starter for the third Test at Sydney, which starts on January 2.

Inzamam clearly struggled with his fitness during the Perth Test - he was off the field for long periods during Australia's second innings, and made 1 and a first-ball duck in the two innings. In his absence, Yousuf Youhana will take over as captain, while Asim Kamal or Yasir Hameed will come into the team.

Meanwhile, a decision on Justin Langer will be taken on the morning of the match. Langer has a bulging disc in his lower back, and while his condition has improved over the last few days, he still hasn't recovered sufficiently to be a certainty. "I'm still a bit sore but I have not given up hope and I guess we'll know what the form is tomorrow morning," Langer said.

"There's still, I guess, doubt - definite doubt," Buchanan said of Langer. "But he's certainly improving so we'll keep monitoring that and hopefully make a decision as early as possible - one for his sake, but also for Simon Katich as well."