Rana ruled out of England tour

Pakistan's hopes of extending their unbeaten record in England suffered a setback when Rana was ruled out with a recurrence of groin injury.

Pakistan's hopes of extending their unbeaten record in England suffered a setback when pacer Rana Naved-ul Hasan was ruled out of the tour with a recurrence of groin injury.

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Uncapped left-arm fast bowler Samiullah Niazi will fly out to England on Tuesday to join the injury-hit Pakistan cricket team as replacement for Rana.

Chairman of selectors Wasim Bari confirmed on Monday that Niazi, 24, was being rushed on skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq's request.

"The decision to send Samiullah Niazi as Rana Naved's replacement was taken on Saturday. He (Niazi) has been preferred by the captain because of being a left-armer which, according to the captain, gives the team variety in bowling attack," Bari said.

Niazi has taken 138 wickets from 32 first-class matches. Interestingly, he was overlooked for the quadrangular cricket series in Darwin being competed by the A teams of Pakistan, India, New Zealand and Australia.

Bari said the team management had so far not asked for Mohammad Asif's replacement. Asif is a doubtful starter for the July 13 Test because of elbow injury.

"He would be operated up on in England later in the month. I don't have to say that we are disappointed at losing him because we always thought he would be an excellent asset on the tour."