Babar Azam’s place in Pakistan’s first Test against England hangs in the balance, with the team management set to make a late call on his fitness. The batter has been managing a finger injury on his right hand since the second Test against West Indies, and a second blow during a warm-up match has pushed his participation further into doubt.
Injury History Raises Fresh Concerns
Babar first hurt his hand while batting against West Indies, and the issue resurfaced during Pakistan’s practice match against a Professional County Club Select XI in Beckenham. He retired hurt after being struck again and did not return to the middle for the rest of the game. The Pakistan Cricket Board described his withdrawal as a precautionary step rather than a confirmed setback, though it left selectors with limited data heading into the series opener.
Pakistan touched down in Leeds on Sunday and held their first training session at Headingley on Monday, just two days before the Test begins. Babar joined the nets and faced a short spell of throwdowns, showing no clear signs of pain, but his time at the crease stayed noticeably brief. Team management has stopped short of ruling him in or out, choosing instead to wait on further medical input before finalising the XI.
Coach Mohammad Abbas confirmed that no decision has been reached yet, and the call will rest with the medical panel and selection committee closer to match day. He noted that Babar completed some throwdowns and batting practice during the session, but stressed that the final word will follow medical clearance rather than visible form. Should Babar sit out, Saud Shakeel and Awais Zafar are both likely to slot into the middle order, filling the gap left behind.
Shakeel and Zafar Poised for Middle-Order Roles
Shakeel missed the entire West Indies series through injury, while Zafar earned his debut in the second Test of that tour. Shakeel returned to form with a century in the Beckenham warm-up game, a performance that already marked him out as a likely inclusion regardless of Babar’s fitness.
His century, paired with Zafar’s recent introduction to the setup, gives Pakistan two ready options if Babar is forced to sit out the opener.
Shan Masood’s Recovery Shows Positive Signs
Meanwhile, Shan Masood’s rehabilitation appears to be progressing well. Masood fractured a finger during the first Test against West Indies and subsequently missed the second match of that series. He sat out the Beckenham warm-up entirely but spent a longer stretch batting in the nets during Monday’s session at Headingley, a sign that his recovery is on track.
Abbas said Masood trained through the full session and looked sharp, adding that his final involvement will still depend on medical assessment closer to the match. Babar took over Test captaincy from Masood at the start of the West Indies series, and his continued absence would leave a leadership question unresolved. Salman Agha, Pakistan’s T20I captain, led the side during the Beckenham fixture in Babar’s absence but has yet to captain the Test team.
With the series opener just two days away, Pakistan’s team combination now depends heavily on what the medical panel decides in the coming hours.
For more cricket news and updates, visit Mostbet Blog!
