Pakistan all rounder Shoaib Malik could miss the first one-day international against England on Saturday if a trip to Australia for tests on his bowling action has left him too jet-lagged to play.
"Shoaib Malik is coming back on the ninth so he will be available here but whether he plays in the first match will depend on how he feels because he will be very tired," Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer said on Thursday
Malik has gone to the University of Western Australia where biomechanics professor Bruce Elliot will conduct tests on his bowling action, which was reported after the first Test in Multan last month.
Malik was also reported in October last year but was cleared by the International Cricket Council (ICC) under its new regulations on illegal bowling actions.
"We are confident he will clear the tests as there is no major issue in his action," Woolmer said.
Pace bowler Shabbir Ahmed was also reported after the first Test, in which he took five wickets.
It was the second time Shabbir had been reported for an illegal action under the current process and, if found guilty, he could be suspended from bowling in international cricket for 12 months.
| |||||||||||
Pakistan are also without all rounder Shahid Afridi for the first two one-day games due to an ICC ban for scuffing the pitch during the second Test in Faisalabad.
The home team won the Test series against England 2-0 but have not played a one-day international since May when they beat West Indies.
"It's funny in sport, if you leave something and then come back to it you have to relearn it a bit," said Woolmer. "We start the series knowing it is 50-50 between us and England.