Babar Azam [Source: x]The Pakistan cricket team is due for a big shock in a couple of days’ time when the players take field at Headingley in Leeds to take on England in their series-opener. Senior batter and visiting captain Babar Azam might well miss the all-important Test as the cricketer is yet to fully recover from his injury.It is worth noting that Babar was also ruled out halfway into Pakistan’s warm-up match against the Professional County Club Select XI in Beckenham a few days ago. Babar Azam likely to miss Pakistan’s first Test vs EnglandWhile speaking with the reporters during a pre-match press conference, Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Abbas has said that the Pakistan medical team and the selection committee is yet to take a decision on the availability of Babar Azam for the first Test against England in Leeds. Also Read- Shaheen Afridi Outrightly Rejects Babar Azam's ODI Captaincy ReturnThe cricketer added that the final decision will be taken by the Pakistan team management just before the opening day of the match. He said “Whether he plays or not will be a decision taken on match day. He did a few throwdowns and some batting practice today. But we'll have to follow medical advice for it.”What happened to Babar Azam?Babar Azam suffered a nasty blow to his hand during Pakistan’s recently-concluded Test tour of the West Indies. Nursing an impact injury, the legendary Pakistan batter was also hit on his hand during Pakistan’s warm-up match against the Professional County Club Select XI in Beckenham.He went off the field retired hurt, and did not take part in the remainder of the match, as confirmed by the PCB. Babar’s absence was part of a precautionary measure just ahead of Pakistan’s all-important three-match Test series in England.The 31-year-old has since trained in the nets alongside his teammates at Headingley. Even though the Pakistan batting icon demonstrated no signs of any discomfort during training sessions, his stay in the nets was brief. Who can replace Babar Azam in Pakistan XI for first Test?If Babar Azam fails to attain full recovery and gets rested by the Pakistan team management, both Saud Shakeel and Awais Zafar might play in the middle-order.While Shakeel last played Test cricket for Pakistan in Bangladesh back in May and missed the subsequent tour of West Indies, Zafar made his Test debut in Port of Spain just earlier this month. Shakeel also scored an unbeaten century for Pakistan in the warm-up match last week in Beckenham. In terms of captaincy, it remains to be seen which player can lead Pakistan in the first Test in the absence of Babar. With former captain Shan Masood himself looking good in his recovery from a finger injury, T20I skipper Salman Agha led the national side in their warm-up match.The first Test of the three-match series will be played between August 19 and August 23 in Leeds. Also Read- The Hundred 2026 Men’s Team Of The Tournament
