Will Babar Azam Take Part In Bangladesh Test Series? New Injury Update Arrives

Latest update arrives on Babar Azam's injury [Source: AFP]

Pakistan suffered a massive blow before the first Test vs Bangladesh as their star batter, Babar Azam, sustained a knee injury, and he was ruled out of the game on Thursday evening. After witnessing the highs in the PSL 2026, where he captained Peshawar Zalmi to a historic title, great things were expected of him in the Test series.

However, on Tuesday, the Pakistan middle-order batter complained of knee pain, and after careful medical examination, the Pakistan team management decided to rest Babar in the first Test match in Mirpur.

With the first day of the Test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh over, a fresh injury update arrives on Babar as Pakistan management sweats hard on his fitness for the remainder of the tour.

Relief for Pakistan as Babar Azam likely to be back for 2nd Test

In the latest development, the right-handed batter, who suffered a knee injury, is likely to be back in the playing XI for the second Test match against Bangladesh.

According to a report by Daily Ausaf, Babar completed all the practice sessions, and showed progress in his recovery from the left knee pain he sustained before the first Test match.

The report added that Babar’s knee injury assessment showed no severe damage, and he is most likely going to take part in the second Test match, starting from May 16.

Babar did not ask to rest for the first Test. However, because he is an important part of the team, the management decided not to take any chances.

Babar’s absence left a hole in Pakistan’s middle-order

Despite not being at his best in red-ball cricket, Babar still remains Pakistan’s best player in this format, and he is a vital cog in their middle-order. The former Pakistan captain was expected to play a key role in the away Test, but in his absence, the team had to field a weak lineup.

In Abdullah Fazal, Shan Masood, Saud Shakeel, and Mohammad Rizwan, the Pakistan team fielded a weak middle-order lineup against the Tigers in Mirpur. Babar provides solidity in red-ball cricket, and without him, that was missing in the playing XI.

If he returns in the second Test match, Babar is likely to replace Abdullah Fazal in the playing XI.

Also Read: Injury Or Politics? Babar Azam's Ouster From PAK vs BAN 1st Test Cleared By Shan Masood

Babar Azam's not so great Test career since 2023

Till 2022, Babar was at the peak of his powers across formats and was touted to become one of Pakistan’s great Test batters. However, since the start of 2023, things have fallen apart as his career has gone downwards.

In 2022, he averaged a whopping 69 in Tests, but in the last three years, the numbers have dropped to 22.66, 20.20, and 31.50, respectively.

Despite this, Pakistan has shown trust in his red-ball abilities, and the ongoing series was a great chance for the elegant batter to remind fans of his evergreen class. However, it seems the batter now needs to wait for the second Test to come back into the groove.

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