Pakistan have a major injury crisis on the eve of their must-win second Test match against India at Calcutta with four key players possibly missing out on selection for Friday.

With Pakistan having lost the first match in Delhi they need victory to maintain their hopes of winning their first series in India since 1987.

Although skipper Shoaib Malik said final decisions will be made on the team on the morning of the match, he was limping during practice and appeared to be in some discomfort. If he doesn’t play Younis Khan will lead the side as he did in the ICC Champions Trophy last year. Younis scored a century at Calcutta in the 2005 Test.

Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, who spent Tuesday night in hospital with a chest infection, is also doubtful as is fellow paceman Mohammad Sami, with flu.

What is definite is that seamer Umar Gul, who was declared fit to play on Tuesday, aggravated the back injury that kept him from playing in Delhi and he will be sent back to Pakistan over the next few days for rehab. The Pakistan selectors are currently deciding on at least one replacement and Rao Iftikhar Anjum is favourite.

“There are too many injuries in the side, maybe four or five, but we are working hard as we need to win this Test match,” Malik said. “I’ve been walking and running on my ankle and it’s hurting it a bit but let’s see what happens in the morning.”

India skipper Anil Kumble had little sympathy for his opponents, as one would expect, and just stated that he was pleased that all of his players were fit for selection. He did sympathize with Malik though with regards to the criticism he has received after the Delhi Test. Even his own team-mate Shahid Afridi said he needed to take charge more.

“This is very unfair and people don’t realize the pressures on a captain nowadays compared to when I started playing 17 years ago. The media and all other external pressures are so much greater now.”