Why did Babar Azam miss BAN vs PAK 1st Test in Dhaka?

Babar Azam has been a key player for Pakistan in Test cricket.

Babar Azam is in the news globally as he has recently returned to form, finishing as the leading run-scorer in the recently concluded Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026, where he led Peshawar Zalmi to their second PSL title. Babar scored 588 runs in 11 innings, showing his class and consistency.

However, he didn’t get much time to celebrate with the team and the fans, as national duties awaited and he had to fly to Bangladesh for the Test series. Upon arriving in Bangladesh, Babar had a few practice sessions without any discomfort, but suddenly there were reports that he might be ruled out of the first Test, and that eventually happened.

There was no clear statement from the team management regarding whether he would be ruled out of the whole Test series, as they only stated that his condition was being managed by the medical panel of the team. On that note, let’s have a look at why Babar missed the first Test against Bangladesh.

Babar Azam ruled out of the first BAN vs PAK Test due to knee injury

Babar Azam arrived in Bangladesh on Monday, just a few hours after Zalmi’s historic win in PSL 2026. For the next two days, he trained without any discomfort, but on Thursday morning, he woke up with pain in his knee. Later, the medical team advised him to opt out of the first Test against Bangladesh.

Babar may not have had form on his side in the longer format recently, but he was in very good batting form in the PSL, and he would have liked to carry that confidence into the different format as well. Babar’s absence will leave a hole in the middle order of the Pakistan Test team.

In his place, Azam Awais is playing, and he has no experience in Test cricket as he is making his debut. This is Pakistan’s first away Test series in the current ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.

Earlier, they played two Tests against South Africa at home, losing one and emerging victorious in the other. They would like to claim a win in this series to strengthen their chances of reaching the WTC final.

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