COLOMBO, March 27: Pakistan pace bowler Rana Navedul Hasan has returned home because his wife is ill, the team management announced on Monday. The 28-year-old was scheduled to play the ongoing first Test against Sri Lanka and would have opened the bowling for the touring side if the first day’s play had not been washed out on Sunday.

“It’s extremely disappointing to lose him at this stage of the series but he was desperate to get back home after hearing about his wife’s bad health,” team manager Zaheer Abbas said. “He was put on the first flight that was available.”

Pakistan are unlikely to name a replacement with only one more Test to go.

It is unclear whether Naved will return in time for the second Test in Kandy, which starts on April 3.—Agencies