Pakistan will decide this week whether to call Sussex leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed into their injury-ravaged Test squad.

The 36-year-old, who played the last of his 52 Tests in 2003, could be recalled for next week's second Test at Old Trafford as Pakistan's injury crisis shows no signs of abating.

Sussex team-mate Rana Naved is out of the tour because of a knee problem, Shoaib Akhtar only arrived yesterday and is unlikely to be available until the third Test while Mohammad Asif is out for a month.

In addition, all-rounder Shoaib Malik has flown home for treatment on his injured elbow and is out for at least four weeks. Mushtaq's fellow leg-spinner Danish Kaneria bowled 82 overs in the drawn first Test at Lord's.

With the weather expected to stay dry and Old Trafford the most spin-friendly of England's Test venues, Pakistan are considering calling up Mushtaq.

He has been registered as the 17th member of the touring party and I understand he has been allocated a one-day squad number.

Chief selector Wasim Bari supports the idea and tour manager Zaheer Abbas confirmed: "We are talking about it but we haven't made a decision yet. Maybe in a day or two we will come to a conclusion. We have taken permission from the board and they have no problem if we bring in another player."

Mushtaq, who has taken 53 wickets in eight games, was due to return to the Sussex attack against Middlesex at Southgate today after missing last week's match against Kent because of sciatica in his neck.

The Old Trafford Test starts next Thursday - the same day as Sussex's Championship match against Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

If Mushtaq is called up there is every chance he could be retained in the squad for the third Test at Headingley which starts eight days later on August 4. That would rule him out of a possible Championship decider against Lancashire at Hove.

Sussex have always been fairly phlegmatic about the prospect of losing their best bowler to Pakistan's tour.

They have been using another leg-spinner, Imran Tahir, in second team cricket in recent weeks with a view to registering him, even it is only on a short-term basis, as cover. The 27-year-old has taken more than 200 first-class wickets and has played for Pakistan A.

Cricket manager Mark Robinson said: "It is a case of keeping our options open. As far as Mushy going away with Pakistan is concerned we have heard nothing and until anything happens here is not a lot we can do."