CRICKET: England captain Michael Vaughan will discover today whether a knee injury will force him out of his team's tour of Pakistan almost before it has started.

Vaughan - who has a history of ligament problems in his right knee - crumpled in a heap at the crease and had to retire hurt before he had scored a run on day two of England's tour match against Pakistan A at Bagh-e-Jinnah.

He required several minutes treatment on the pitch before limping off to have his knee packed with ice and heavily strapped, before then going to hospital for a scan.

England's chief medical officer Peter Gregory has confirmed Vaughan's chances of being fit in time for the start of the first Test in Multan on Saturday are "slim".

"We will need 24 or 48 hours to see how he pulls up clinically and responds to the treatment, as well as to take into account what we find on those scans," Gregory said yesterday.

"I am hopeful - but whether that is realistic or not we will have to wait and see. He has a history of cartilage damage, and it would be very likely this is that too. Usually with tears you would need an operation."

Vaughan's injury overshadowed an improved if not yet entirely convincing performance from England's batsmen as they posted a second-innings 256 all out to leave the hosts needing 245 to win.

Pakistan A raced to 31 for one in just four overs by stumps to open up the possibility of a close call for England today if they are to remain unbeaten on tour.