Lara will miss tour of Pakistan

The injury that Brian Lara suffered in Saturday's one-day international against Sri Lanka is worse than was first thought, it was confirmed yesterday.

The West Indies manager Ricky Skerritt revealed that a re-examination of Lara's injury has exposed a hairline fracture in the elbow joint. The discovery means the record-breaking batsman is almost certain to miss the West Indies tour to Pakistan in the new year.

Skerritt said: "Last night, we had Brian Lara looked at by another orthopaedic surgeon here in Colombo at a private clinic, since Lara's fingers had been tingling and seemed somewhat swollen. After more X-rays, and subsequent examination, it has now been diagnosed that there is definitely a hairline fracture at the elbow joint."

Lara had to be airlifted to hospital after colliding with the Sri Lanka fielder Marvan Atapattu while attempting a quick single. It had originally been thought that he had only suffered a dislocated elbow.

"What this means is that Brian Lara is effectively ruled out of the next scheduled West Indies tour, of Pakistan," Skerritt added. The West Indies play Pakistan in three Tests and three one-day internationals in February and March.