Umar Gul ruled out of first Test

"Gul complained of stiffness and pain in his lower back and we got it scanned," said the Pak media manager.

Pakistan fast bowler Umar Gul has been ruled out of the first test against India starting on Thursday because of a back problem, a team official said.

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"Gul complained of stiffness and pain in his lower back and we got it scanned," Pakistan media manager Ehsan Malik said on Wednesday.

"We're going to consult with orthopaedic surgeons in India as well as back home so he is ruled out of the Delhi Test as a precautionary measure."

Gul, 23, who has taken 67 wickets from 16 tests, suffered stress fractures in his back in 2004 which sidelined him for several months.