CRICKET: Pakistan could face England in the Headingley Test tomorrow with a new opening pair as Imran Farhat is highly doubtful after breaking his ring finger while taking a gully catch at Old Trafford.

"He is struggling to field, so he is unlikely to come into contention," confirmed Pakistan's coach Bob Woolmer, as the rain tippled down in West Yorkshire. But that is not the extent of Woolmer's problems.

His experiment of fielding the wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal as a Test opener on a bouncy Old Trafford surface was widely criticised after Pakistan slipped to an innings defeat inside three days. Woolmer's dilemma is whether he dare retain faith in Akmal, who has had success as a one-day opener. Alternatively he could opt for an entirely new combination in Salman Butt, who was dropped after the first Test at Lord's, and Taufeeq Umar, a late addition to the squad and possessor of a Test average of 40.

Akmal would then revert to the middle order, with much agonising over the likely behaviour of the Headingley pitch before Pakistan decide who makes way. Their alternative pace options - Shahid Nazir, Iftikhar Anjum or the uncapped Samiullah Khan - do not have the look of miracle workers.

"We will consider the opening partnership in general," Woolmer said. "Kamran has opened before, and it allowed us to play an extra bowler down the order at Old Trafford because we felt . . . that the ball would turn on the fifth day. Unfortunately we didn't get to the fifth day."

The counties, meanwhile, have agreed to a reduction from two to one overseas players per game from 2008. To counter growing availability problems, the England and Wales Cricket Board will allow up to four to be registered for any season.