A decision will be made about injured Australian opener Justin Langer before play but Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq ruled himself out of the second cricket Test starting in Melbourne.

Langer has a back injury, so apparently has Inzamam but he chose not to say anything to journalists in Australia in keeping with his team's media blackout.

Instead, he spoke to a news agency journalist in Pakistan.

"I have been advised to rest for three weeks by doctors. My back is sore and hurting," he told Reuters by telephone after undergoing medical tests.

Inzamam said he was not yet sure about playing in the third and final Test in Sydney.

His absence in Melbourne will be a big blow for Pakistan, crushed by the world champions by 491 runs in the first Test.

The captain, however, had a wretched time in Perth, dismissed for one in the first innings and, clearly in pain, a duck in the second.

He did very little during is team's practice session at the MCG.

Langer, meanwhile, is desperate to play and extend his lead at the top of the 2004 run-scoring table but, while the bulging disc in his lower back has improved from Wednesday, he still has a big question mark over him.

The 34-year-old, who underwent a pool session and massage before and after the team's traditional family Christmas lunch, was optimistic of playing as his range of movement had improved from two days ago, when he was confined to bed.

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