LEEDS: Pakistan captain and star batter Babar Azam will miss the opening Test of the three-match series against England after suffering a finger injury, head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed confirmed on Tuesday.
Pakistan will face England in the first Test at Headingley in Leeds from August 19, with Salman Ali Agha set to lead the national side in Babar’s absence.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Sarfaraz said Babar is still experiencing pain and is being monitored by the team’s medical staff. The coach expressed hope that the experienced batter will recover in time to feature in the second Test.
“Babar is feeling pain, and the medical team is assessing him. Hopefully, he will be available for the second Test,” Sarfaraz said.
Babar suffered the injury during Pakistan’s three-day practice match against the Professional County Club (PCC) Select XI in Beckenham last week. The incident occurred on the final delivery of the 39th over when pacer Manny Lumsden bowled a sharp delivery that struck Babar on the finger.
The Pakistan captain immediately showed signs of discomfort, dropped his bat and received treatment from the medical staff. He subsequently left the field after scoring five runs from 17 deliveries.
The latest injury is particularly concerning because it is the second time in a month that Babar has been struck on the hand. He suffered a similar blow during Pakistan’s recent Test series against the West Indies.
Following the incident in Beckenham, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said its medical team had advised Babar to take no further part in the practice match as a precautionary measure. The decision was aimed at allowing the batter to recover ahead of the important England Test series.
Babar’s absence will be a major blow for Pakistan, with the former captain regarded as one of the team’s most important batters across all formats. His experience and ability to score heavily in Test cricket will be missed as Pakistan begins its first Test series in England since 2020.
The three-match series will begin at Headingley in Leeds on August 19 and continue until August 23. The second Test will be played at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground from August 27 to 31, while the final match is scheduled at Edgbaston in Birmingham from September 9 to 13.
With Babar unavailable for the opening match, Salman Ali Agha will take charge of the Pakistan side. The team management will also be hoping that Babar makes a full recovery ahead of the second Test at Lord’s.
Pakistan Squad for England Test Series
Pakistan’s squad includes Babar Azam, Aamir Jamal, Ali Usman, Abdullah Shafique, Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Awais Zafar, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah.
Saud Shakeel’s participation remains subject to fitness, while Mohammad Rizwan and Muhammad Ghazi Ghori provide wicketkeeping options for the team.
The Pakistan camp will now closely monitor Babar Azam’s recovery, with the medical team expected to assess his condition before determining whether he can return for the second Test.
For Pakistan, the immediate priority will be to start the England series strongly despite the absence of their star batter and captain. Salman Ali Agha will face the added responsibility of leading the side in what promises to be a challenging Test series in English conditions.
