Malik doubtful for entire Test series

The injury-hit Pakistan squad suffered a fresh blow when Bob Woolmer, their coach, indicated that Shoaib Malik, the allrounder, was doubtful for the entire Test series against England.

Malik was left out of the ongoing first Test at Lord's with an elbow injury, which Pakistan had hoped an operation two months ago would cure. But Woolmer, after the second day at Lord's, told reporters: "Shoaib Malik is doubtful for the whole series. His injury is not reacting to injections and he might not make it for the Tests."

Malik, 24, has lately proved to be an able solution for Pakistan's opening worries, managing two fifties and a hundred in that position. He often blunted the threat of the new ball, notably in the home series against England late last year, and also made an unbeaten 148 in Pakistan's recent triumph at Colombo.

Pakistan are currently without Shoaib Akhtar, their spearhead who was omitted from the original tour party with an ankle injury, and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, his fellow fast bowler, who had to withdraw from the tour with a groin problem.

It's not all bad news, though. Younis Khan, who had a knee ailment, and Mohammad Asif, with an elbow worry, are likely to be fit for the second Test, starting at Old Trafford on July 27, while there's even an outside chance of Shoaib being fit for the final Test of the series. "The stress fracture is healed 80%," said Woolmer about Shoaib's injury, "now it's a matter of loading it, first gently then gradually. That takes around 2-3 weeeks. I am not in a position to say when he will be fit but if we can get him fit, we will play him."