Major update on ‘injured’ Babar Azam’s availability for first ENG vs PAK Test
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Babar Azam got injured during Pakistan’s warmup Test ahead of England series.
The highly-anticipated Test series between England and Pakistan is all set to begin on August 19 (Wednesday). The first test is scheduled to take place at The Headingley in Leeds.
Both England and Pakistan are not at good positions in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 table. As a result, this series will be very important for both sides.
Pakistan recently drew the two-match Test series in West Indies under Babar Azam, who was reappointed as Test captain, replacing Shan Masood.
On the other hand, England lost the home Test series 1-2 against New Zealand. The hosts will also see the change in leadership as Joe Root and Stephen Fleming have replaced Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum. Notably, Fleming will join team after Pakistan series.
Pakistan have now won a Test series in England since 1996. Since then, these two sides have played six test series in England.
The hosts have won three, and the other three have been drawn. Pakistan will hope to break this streak, but they have suffered a massive scare ahead of the first Test.
Babar Azam unlikely to play first ENG vs PAK Test at Headingley
Pakistan captain Babar Azam suffered an injury to his right hand during the warmup game against Professional County Club Select XI. He was hit by England U-19 star Manny Lumsden while batting.
It was a painful blow, which forced Babar to retire hurt. He didn’t come out to bat in either inning in that game. Notably, he got hit at the same hand during the test series against West Indies.
A statement from PCB read:
“Following an assessment by the team doctor and taking precautionary measures, Babar has been advised to take rest from the remainder of the practice match. Babar will participate in Pakistan team’s practice session on Monday, August 17, at Headingley Cricket Ground.”
Though Babar was seen having a net session on Monday and looked good. However, Pakistan’s speedster Mohammad Abbas revealed that the decision on Babar’s availability is still not confirmed.
He said, “Whether he plays or not will be a decision taken on match day. He did a few throwdowns and some batting practice today. But we’ll have to follow medical advice for it.”
Babar’s exclusion will be a big blow to the visitors. He was the leading scorer in the recently concluded series in West Indies. Pakistan are placed 8th on WTC table with PCT 22.22 and England are seventh on the table with 24.36 PCT.
When will the first ENG vs PAK Test start?
The first Test between England and Pakistan will begin on August 19 at Headingley in Leeds.
Will Babar Azam will play 1st ENG vs PAK Test?
Babar Azam is unlikely to play the first ENG vs PAK Test at Headingley
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Karan Rawat is a seasoned cricket writer with a deep passion for the game and over 5 years of experience covering everything that the game can offer. He loves to share the analysis, match reports, and player profiles and tries to bring stories to life with a unique blend of statistics and storytelling. Whether breaking down Test match tactics or capturing the drama of a T20 thriller, Karan's work connects fans with the soul of the sport.