LONDON, July 15: Injured Pakistan stars Mohammad Asif and Shoaib Malik have flown home from the tour of England as they each try to regain fitness.

Fast bowler Asif and opening batsman Malik both have elbow injuries and were among several leading Pakistan players who missed the first Test at Lord's, the opening encounter of the four-match npower series.

But while Pakistan tour manager Zaheer Abbas was hopeful Asif could still play a role in the Tests, he ruled Malik out although he was cautiously optimistic that the batsman, who has played county cricket for Gloucestershire, could return in time for the one-day series starting in August.

“Asif and Malik have both flown home to Pakistan,” Zaheer said at Lord's on Saturday. “There is very little chance of Malik playing in the Test series. But he might return for the one-day series.

“Asif wants to go back for some rest and if he gets fit he could be back for the third or fourth Test,” Pakistan batting great Zaheer added.

Uncapped paceman Samiullah Niazi has already been summoned as cover and Zaheer said further replacements were on the way to bolster both Pakistan's batting and bowling.

“Taufiq Umer (opening batsman) and Rao Iftikhar (medium-pacer) are flying to England in the next couple of days,” explained Zaheer, who was philosophical about Pakistan's injury crisis.

“Injuries are part and parcel of the game. It's disappointing to lose a bowler like Asif but we can do nothing about it,” insisted Zaheer, one of Gloucestershire's overseas stars in the 1970s.

Pakistan are currently without spearhead fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, who was omitted from the original tour party with an ankle injury.

Fellow paceman Rana Navedul Hasan then had to withdraw from the whole tour with a groin problem.

Meanwhile vice-captain and senior batsman Younis Khan (knee) was also missing from the team at Lord's.—AFP