Pakistan pace bowler Naved-ul-Hasan returns home from Sri Lanka by AFP

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Player:	Naved-ul-Hasan
Event:	Pakistan in Sri Lanka 2005/06

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DateLine: 27th March 2006

 

Pakistan pace bowler Naved-ul-Hasan has returned home because his wife is ill, the team management announced here on Monday.

 

The 28-year-old was scheduled to play the ongoing first Test against Sri Lanka and would have opened the bowling for the touring side if the first day's play had not been washed out on Sunday.

 

"It's extremely disappointing to lose him at this stage of the series but he was desperate to get back home after hearing about his wife's bad health," a team spokesman said.

 

Pakistan are unlikely to name a replacement with only one more Test to go.

 

The touring side are also without the services of frontline batsman Mohammad Yousuf for the opening Test because of a hamstring injury but he's expected to recover in time for next week's second and final Test in Kandy.

 

Pakistan won a preceding three-match one-day series 2-0 with one match abandoned due to rain.

(Article: Copyright © 2006 AFP)