Pakistani seamer Umar Gul is being sent home after he aggravated a back injury while bowling at the nets at the Eden Gardens on Thursday morning.

"Gul felt a lot of pain while bowling, so we are sending him back," Pakistan skipper Shoaib Malik [Images] said at the media conference ahead of his team's second cricket Test against India starting in Kolkata on Friday.

Gul, who bowled a few deliveries, aggravated the injury. He needs treatment", he said.

There was further bad news for Pakistan as Malik, who was carrying an ankle sprain, felt pain while undergoing the fitness test on Thursday.

"I went through a fitness test, did some jogging but felt a lot of pain. I will go through another fitness test before the start of the match tomorrow morning," Malik said.

However, fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar [Images], who was taken to hospital with a viral infection, was much better, Malik said adding a final decision on him will be taken on Friday morning.

Malik disclosed that the Pakistan team management had sought some replacements from home.

"We have spoken to the selectors back home, we have given them a few options. It is confidential and up to them (the selectors) to decide," he said.

"We hope some replacements will arrive here tonight," he said.