Rana had been sent to England for fresh scans after he was advised to take six weeks' rest and possibly undergo surgery that would rule him out of the four-Test series in England starting next month.

"I spoke to Rana and he said he is much better. The specialist in London has given him one week's time to show some improvement," Woolmer told Reuters.

"If there is improvement then he has an outside chance of making the tour. If not then apparently he has to go in for a surgery which would rule him out for the tour."

Pakistan have already lost fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar to a stress fracture of the ankle and he has not been picked in the squad for the four Test matches, the first of which starts at Lord's on July 13.