Fawad Alam, Abdur Rauf to fly back home

Left-handed batsman Fawad Alam and fast bowler Abdur Rauf have been asked to fly back home to leave Pakistan with a 15-man squad for the remaining two Tests.

"Pakistan Cricket Board has instructed the Team Management in Australia to send Fawad Alam and Abdur Rauf back immediately in order to reduce the size of squad to 15 players," a PCB release stated. "The decision about any replacement will be made during the second Test Match by the Selection Committee after watching the performances of players."

Alam, who scored a century on debut against Sri Lanka in Colombo, has failed to impress in his next two Tests. Rauf, quite surprisingly, replaced Umar Gul for the Boxing Day Test, but managed to grab just one wicket while conceding 119 runs and dropped Shane Watson at point with the batsman on 99.

The second Test gets underway in Sydney on January 3.