Who will captain Pakistan in absence of Babar Azam for first ENG vs PAK Test?
(Courtesy : Twitter)
Babar Azam has been ruled out of ENG vs PAK 1st Test at Headingley in Leeds.
The three-match Test series between England and Pakistan will begin on August 19 (Wednesday). The first game is scheduled to take place at The Headingley in Leeds. England will see a change in captaincy as Ben Stokes has retired.
Brendon McCullum has been sacked as Test head coach. Joe Root will begin his second stint as captain, while Marcus Trescothick will be the interim coach in the absence of newly appointed Stephen Fleming.
Pakistan are coming off a series draw in West Indies and won the second Test. Pakistan have not won a Test series in England since 1996, and they will be aiming for a big reward. England lost the last home Test series against New Zealand.
They will be hoping for an improved show under the new leadership group. These will be tough conditions for Pakistan, and to make it even tougher, captain Babar Azam has also been ruled out of the first test.
Salman Ali Agha to lead Pakistan in the Leeds Test
Babar Azam was hit on his hand during the warmup game against County Club XI in Beckenham while batting in the first innings. He didn’t feature in the remaining game. Though he took part in the training sessions ahead of the Leeds Test on Monday.
But there was an uncertainty about his availability for the first Test. Now, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed his exclusion from the first game. The PCB also confirmed that all-rounder Salman Ali Agha will lead Pakistan in his absence.
In a statement released by PCB, they said, “Pakistan captain Babar Azam is unavailable for the first Test match,” head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed confirmed on the eve of the Test match. “Salman Agha will be the captain for the first Test.”
It will be a big blow to the visitors. Because Babar is Pakistan’s highest-ranked Test batter. He jumped five spots up to tenth after finishing the test series against West Indies as the leading scorer.
Without him the top order looks weaker. There are not many Pakistani batters who have experience of playing in England. So, Pakistan will be feeling the heat, and it will be a big challenge for the visitors.
When and where will the first ENG vs PAK test start?
The first test between England and Pakistan will start at 3:30 PM IST on August 19 at Headingley in Leeds.
Will Babar Azam play first ENG vs PAK test?
Babar Azam has been ruled out of first ENG vs PAK Test.
For more updates, follow Khel Now Cricket on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.
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.