BANGALORE, Dec 6: Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik has been ruled out of the third and final Test against India which starts from Saturday here at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium after doctors declared that he needed more time to recover from the ankle injury.

Dr Ahsan Hameed Malik, the team’s media manager, told reporters on Thursday that the incapacitated Malik’s left ankle has again cast in plaster after the doctors found the first-grade strain has not yet healed.

Malik’s prospects of playing the Bangalore Test was always in doubt after missing the drawn second Test in Kolkata following his ankle was put in plaster six days ago when he suffered a first-grade strain on his ankle while playing football shortly after India won the first Test in Delhi by six wickets.

“Malik is definitely out of the final Test when a specialist found the injury has not healed after removing the plaster this afternoon. He still feels a lot of pain and stiffness around the adjoining area. Thee doctor has advised that the ankle be cast in plaster for another five days,” Ahsan told reporters. “As you must have noticed, Malik has found it difficult to walk properly because of the discomfort.”

He added that it would have been unwise had Malik been pushed into playing here. “What is the point in taking such a risk? Normally, this type of injury takes some time in healing. But hopefully with the passage of time, he will recover fully.”

Ahsan further said that Malik would not be heading home until the tour ends next week.

“He will stay on for the Bangalore Test since his is the official captain and will return with the rest of the squad after the last match,” he added.

Tour vice-captain Younis Khan, the stand-in captain who steered Pakistan to draw with an unbeaten 107 in the second innings of the Kolkata Test, will continue to lead the tourists in the last Test.

Malik’s absence could be a blessing in disguise for the team since his lacklustre captaincy on this tour has come in for a lot of criticism by several former players and the media.

Pakistan, who must win here to square the Test series after having earlier lost the ODI series 3-2, have never been beaten in a Test in the capital of Karnataka state, winning twice in 1987 and 2005 while drawing in 1979 and 1983.

Younis, who played a pivotal role in helping his side square the last series here two years ago with those majestic knocks of 267 and 84 not out, now has the added responsibility of leading Pakistan as well as carrying the team’s hopes on his broad shoulders along with Mohammad Yousuf, Shoaib Akhtar and Danish Kaneria.

Both teams, meanwhile, practised simultaneously for three hours in a cloudy Thursday afternoon.

The quickly fading natural light these days due to the winter season may reduce the play time here in the Test that is naturally being anticipated to be a cracker of a contest.

Pakistan’s pacer Rao Iftikhar, who arrived here Wednesday night to strengthen the injury-hit squad, practised with the squad on Thursday morning.

Yousuf is still struggling with a stiff back which forced the 33-year-old master batsman to come in to bat two positions lower from his customary No 4 slot on the final day of the second Test.Yousuf, however, is confident of being fit for the coming Test.

“Although I felt stiffness in my back during the nets today, I’ll be alright at the start of the match on Saturday,” Yousuf, who made 44 in the unbroken partnership of 136 with Younis, told reporters.

Shoaib Akhtar also pledged to give his performance in the make-or-break Bangalore Test.

“I’m aware of the situation we find ourselves now. And since it is a do-or-die situation for Pakistan, I’ll try my best here. I feel much better now than I was in Kolkata where it was tough bowling,” the maverick fast bowler, who was controversially selected for the second Test despite lacking less than 100 per cent fitness, remarked.