Babar Azam ruled out of first England Test with hand injury
- Salman Ali Agha will lead Pakistan in his absence
Pakistan Test captain Babar Azam has been ruled out of the opening Test against England after suffering a hand injury during a practice match, with Salman Ali Agha set to captain the side in his absence.
The national team’s head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed confirmed that Salman will lead the national team in the first Test, while Shan Masood has been declared fully fit and available for selection.
Babar suffered the injury while batting on the second day of Pakistan’s three-day practice match against Kent County Cricket Club. He was struck on his right hand by a delivery and was subsequently examined by the team doctor.
As a precautionary measure, the batter was advised to take no further part in the practice match.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had earlier scheduled Babar to join the team’s training session at Headingley Cricket Ground on August 17.
His absence is a major setback for Pakistan ahead of the opening Test, given his experience and importance in the batting lineup. Salman Ali Agha will now shoulder the additional responsibility of leading the team in the crucial encounter against England.
The development also comes as Pakistan prepare for a demanding Test series, with the team expected to finalise its playing XI ahead of the opening match.