Major update on Babar Azam's return date ahead of ENG vs PAK 2nd Test
(Courtesy : X.com)
Babar Azam was re-appointed as Pakistan’s Test captain, replacing Shan Masood.
Pakistan’s Test campaign in England has taken an early blow with the visitors suffering a thrashing defeat in their opening match at Headingley.
The result has increased the importance of the return of experienced players, as Pakistan will be aiming to recover from their loss and level the series in the second match at the iconic venue of Lord’s.
Babar Azam’s absence has been particularly significant in the Pakistan batting order, which faced two massive fallouts during the 1st Test.
In July 2026, the right-handed batter was appointed Pakistan’s Test captain again, replacing Shan Masood. Pakistan cricket fans’ interest had surged with his return to the captaincy, so his inability to play in the first match of the series against England proved to be a major setback.
Azam had been dealing with a finger injury before the start of the England series and then suffered another blow to his right hand during a practice game, which ruled him out of the 1st Test.
Babar Azam return date revealed
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The major update from the Pakistan camp is that Babar Azam is likely to play in the 2nd Test against England at the iconic venue of Lord’s, beginning on the 27th of August.
Reports on 26th August claimed that Babar has recovered sufficiently from his finger injury and will feature in the 2nd Test against England. He was also spotted batting at Lord’s and completed a full net session facing all fast bowlers, spinners and even throwdowns.
Pakistan’s bowling coach Umar Gul also confirmed that the captain looked fitter and was hopeful he would be available for the second Test. Salman Ali Agha led Pakistan in Babar’s absence and under his leadership they were comprehensively beaten by a massive margin of 103 runs and an innings.
Babar’s presence could provide Pakistan with much-needed stability, especially in that middle order. He was Pakistan’s leading run-scorer in their preceding two-Test series against the West Indies, where he accumulated 193 runs, including two half-centuries.
Moreover, Babar has an excellent record in England; he averages 65.75 across six Test innings. He also scored a century and six half-centuries against this opposition.
When was the last time Babar Azam scored a Test century?
Babar Azam scored his last Test century on December 26, 2022, when he made an unbeaten 161 against New Zealand in Karachi.
Did Babar Azam ever score a Test century on English soil?
No, Babar Azam has never scored a Test century on English soil; he has three half-centuries to his name.
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Subhomoy Datta has been a sports writer since 2022. He holds a BSc in Microbiology from Rastraguru Surendranath College, WBSU, and is currently pursuing his master’s at NIT Surathkal. With a growing interest in sports journalism, he enjoys following the game closely and turning sporting moments into stories for fans.