MANCHESTER, July 25: Dashing all-rounder Shahid Afridi gave Pakistan a fresh fitness scare after he was injured just 48 hours ahead of the second Test against England.

While batting here Tuesday in the Old Trafford nets, Afridi — renowned for his hard-hitting and also a handy leg-spinner — tried to pull a ball from a member of the Lancashire groundstaff.

But the ball hit him on the upper part of the bone of his right elbow. He then had ice treatment and strapping applied and didn't bowl in the nets.

“Afridi has a bruised elbow but he should be OK in the next two days.

“It's a hard ball game and such things often happen,” said Bob Woolmer, Pakistan's coach.

“He's a tough Pathan and he'll be alright.”

All-rounder Afridi played in the drawn series opener at Lord's, the first of a four-Test series.

But missing from that match, and still sidelined by injury, are the fast bowling trio of Rana Naved-ul-Hasan — out of the tour completely with a groin problem — Shoaib Akhtar (ankle) and Mohammad Asif (elbow).

However the tourists hope to have vice-captain Younis Khan in their side when the second Test starts at Old Trafford on Thursday, the top-order batsman fit again after a knee injury although opener Shoaib Malik is still out with an elbow problem.—AFP