Injury blow for Nasser Hussain

Nasser Hussain has been ruled out of action for the next month after suffering a broken thumb.  

The England captain suffered two blows on the hand on the third day of the opening Test against Pakistan.

After being dismissed for 64, was taken to a nearby hospital where x-rays confirmed the diagnosis.

He has immediately been ruled out of next week's final Test against Pakistan at Old Trafford and could miss most of the NatWest triangular series, which also features Australia, beginning on June 7.

"I was enjoying the occasion and to have four to five weeks off is hugely disappointing - at least it happened at the end of the innings rather than the beginning," said Hussain.

"The ball hit me full on the thumb and there is nowhere for it to go, especially when you are hit by someone like Shoaib Akhtar.

"I'm seeing a specialist in the week but our physio doesn't seem to think I will need an operation so it's really just about rest and batting again once you're not in pain."

Meanwhile, bad light called an early halt to play in the first Test.

The tourists were on 115-4 when the umpires offered them the light, with 15 overs still to bowl in the day.

Yousuf Youhana is unbeaten on 26, and Younis Khan has 32.