Babar Azam ruled out of first Test against Bangladesh due to knee injury

Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam has been ruled out of the first Test against Bangladesh, which is set to begin tomorrow at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that Azam will not be part of the Playing XI due to a left-knee injury.

The board released a statement saying, “Pakistan batter Babar Azam will not be available for the first Test match against Bangladesh due to an injury in his left knee.”

The statement also mentioned that his injury is under assessment, with the team’s medical panel closely monitoring his condition. “Further updates will be shared in due course,” the PCB added.

This match, part of the ICC World Test Championship, will be held from May 8 to 12 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka. The second Test will take place at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium from May 16 to 20.

In the World Test Championship standings, Bangladesh currently sits in eighth place with one defeat and one draw from two matches, giving them a win percentage of 16.67. Pakistan is positioned fifth, having secured one win and one loss, with 12 points and a 50% win ratio.

Squads:

Pakistan: Shan Masood (c), Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Azan Awais, Babar Azam, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Bangladesh (first Test): Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (vc), Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Ebadot Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Tanzid Hasan, Amite Hasan.