Afridi ruled out of series

India tour of Pakistan, 2005-06

Pakistan's chances of staging a fightback in the one-day series against India took a knock with Shahid Afridi being ruled out of the remaining two matches.

Afridi aggravated a rib injury that he sustained before Monday's third match at Lahore and has been advised to take two weeks' rest, Pakistan's team management said. Afridi opened the batting in Monday's game and felt considerable pain while bowling three overs in India's innings.

Pakistan are already missing Shoaib Akhtar, who was ruled out of the series on Sunday after missing the first two matches with an ankle injury. Mohammad Sami was included in the squad as a replacement for Akthar but no replacement was announced for Afridi. Afridi is a local hero in Pakistan and his dismissals in previous matches have frequently triggered mass exodus of spectators from the ground.

India lead the five-match series 2-1 after they won the third match by five wickets. Pakistan won the first in Peshawar by seven runs and India claimed the second in Rawalpindi by seven wickets. The fourth match of the series will be played at Multan on Thursday while Karachi will host the fifth match on Sunday