Pakistan suffered a huge blow just a day before the start of the second Test against Australia here with young pace sensation Mohammed Aamer being ruled out of the match with a groin injury.
Aamer, who registered his name in the record books as the youngest bowler to take five wickets in an innings through his sensational five-wicket haul in Australia's second innings in Melbourne, is likely to be replaced by Mohammad Sami.
Sami would be returning to the national Test squad after a gap of two years, as he had joined the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) in 2007.
While Pakistan was rocked by the news of Aamer’s injury, the Australians too received a bad news with opener Simon Katich sustaining an elbow injury.
“Simon Katich has sustained a similar injury to Ricky Ponting,” The Age quoted Australia team physio Alex Kountouris, as saying.
“He was struck on the right elbow during the second innings at the MCG.He is still having difficulty batting. As such we'll have a final assessment of his batting tomorrow morning,” Kountouris added.
With Katich in doubt for the match, opener Phillip Hughes has the chance to jostle his way back into the playing eleven.
Possible team lineups:
AUSTRALIA: Ricky Ponting (capt), Shane Watson, Simon Katich, Mike Hussey, Michael Clarke, Marcus North, Brad Haddin, Mitch Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Peter Siddle, Doug Bollinger. Phillip Hughes (on stand by).
PAKISTAN: Mohammad Yousuf (capt), Imran Farhat, Salman Butt, Faisal Iqbal, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Akmal, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Sami, Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif, Danish Kaneria.
