KARACHI, Pakistan News: Pakistan pacer Umar Gul’s participation in the three-match Test series against Australia is doubtful because of a knee injury, thaindian.com quoted on Wednesday.

According to thaindian.com, the initial MRI reports have suggested that Gul might need several weeks to recover from the knee injury, sources said.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to rush fast bowler Mohammad Sami to Australia ahead of the first Test beginning at the Melbourne Cricket Ground from Dec 26. Sami will fly for Melbourne Wednesday night.

Thaindian.com quoted sources as saying that Gul picked up the injury during the tour of New Zealand that concluded earlier this month. A hero of Pakistan’s successful World Twenty20 campaign in England last summer, Gul is part of a four-man pace attack which Pakistan selected for the twin tours of Australia and New Zealand. Sami will be the fifth pacer in the Pakistan squad.

However, it is likely that Gul might return home and start a race against time to get fit for the five-match ODI series against Australia which will begin in Brisbane from Jan 22, the website added.