Andrew Flintoff will return home to the UK next week despite calls for him to be retained as a specialist batsman on England's tour of Pakistan.

After his magnificent innings of 84 from 59 balls, many commentators suggested the Lancashire all-rounder should stay with the touring party to take part as a batsman in Test matches.

But England management, anxious about the 22 year-old's future prospects as an bowler as well as a batsman, have said 'Freddy' will return to Manchester next week so doctors can conduct further exploratory work on his troublesome back.

He will only be recalled, said coach Duncan Fletcher, if other batsmen fall by the wayside with injuries.

"We thought this might happen when we made the decision, we knew this situation could arise,'' he admitted.

"We thought at the time we needed an all-rounder as back-up in case Dominic Cork or Craig White went down, which would have left us with a huge gap in the side.

"We thought about keeping him on as a batsman, but we had to make some sort of a decision a week ago in order to get the balance of the squad right.

"At the moment he's going home, but he will be one of the players we will consider as a stand-by batsman - if we had a problem he would be one of two or three players we would look at."

Fletcher made it clear to Flintoff that if he could not prove his bowling fitness during the one-day internationals against Pakistan, he would be withdrawn for the Test series. Last week, Flintoff was still struggling after bowling in the nets, forcing selectors to send for Surrey's Alex Tudor as a replacement.

Ever since Flintoff represented England's youth sides, there has been a question mark over the condition of his back. As part of the development system, moves were made to liaise with coaches and parents of young fast bowlers to restrict their work rate after reports that too much cricket, while players were still growing, could cause lasting damage.

Flintoff's initial back problems were put down to these growing pains but when they persisted, he consulted an orthopaedic surgeon while still aged only 17 and his father Colin went with him.

"The doctor came out and said he could find nothing wrong," said Flintoff senior.

"The next one we saw said the same thing. He has now seen about five specialists and none of them can find anything physically wrong. It must be very frustrating for Andrew - the last operation he had was supposed to last 18 months but it hasn't worked.

"If he cannot bowl again, I think he will still make it as a batsman because he is very talented but it will be a shame if he cannot fulfil his potential as an all-rounder."

Watching his son win the match for England was a thrill, Mr Flintoff added especially after the criticism he has attracted over his weight and fitness.

"It does annoy me when they refer to him as the 'fat boy'. They don't see him getting up at six every morning and going out training. He works hard but he is a modest lad who loves his cricket. Last night I wanted England to do well and I wanted Andrew to do well. I knew that if he spent time out there he would get runs because once he gets in, it doesn't matter whether its against Glenn McGrath or whoever, he can take anyone apart."

Flintoff arrives home in Manchester next Wednesday to be met by his family, girlfriend and two dogs, Arnie and Freddy.

"It's disappointing to be going home, but I always knew that if my back wasn't right I would be going home after the one-day series," Flintoff said in Lahore today.

"In the past we've always looked for quick fixes with my back, but the time has come to go home, see the specialists and seek a long-term solution.

"I was really pleased with the way I played the other night because I didn't just go out and try and bludgeon the ball, but just tried to play straight and work the ball around.

"It's something I've been working on recently. When we played South Africa in Nairobi I got very frustrated because they bowled very straight at me and gave me nothing to hit so I've been working in the nets at pushing the ball around, trying to score at a run a ball and then punish the loose deliveries."

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