Babar Azam is likely to return to Pakistan's playing XI for 2nd Test vs ENG [Source: AFP]After a disastrous defeat in the first Test at Headingley, Pakistan are regrouping to take on England in the second game of the three-match series. The clash, which is a must-win for Pakistan, will kick off at 3.30 PM IST on August 27 at the iconic Lord's Cricket Ground in London. The Pakistani side received a major boost ahead of the Lord's Test, with their regular captain Babar Azam set to make his comeback. Babar missed the first Test due to a finger injury, and considering he is an experienced batter with 64 matches under his belt, his return will undoubtedly strengthen the Pakistani playing XI. On that note, here is a look at Pakistan's predicted playing XI for the 2nd Test vs England, as the tourists are desperately searching for a victory to stay alive in the series. Openers and top order: Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood, Abdullah ShafiqueCriterionSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableImamSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableShanSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableShafiqueSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableInningsSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table58SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table92SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table50SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableRunsSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table1865SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table2799SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table1870SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableAverageSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table34.53SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table30.75SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table41.6SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table50s/100sSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table11/3SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table14/7SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table7/6SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableImam-ul-Haq: The experienced batter registered a duck in the second innings of the Headingley Test. Although Imam-ul-Haq has been underwhelming in most venues apart from the Rawalpindi Stadium, he showed great resistance on a tricky wicket in the first innings in Leeds. So, considering his experience and the 42-run knock in the first innings, Pakistan will likely persist with him at the opening slot. Shan Masood: Babar Azam's comeback will likely sideline Azan Awais, who managed only nine runs in the Headingley Test. Therefore, Shan Masood is the other opening batter in Pakistan's predicted playing XI vs England for the 2nd Test, having accumulated 1576 runs, including five hundreds, as an opener in Test cricket. Abdullah Shafique: The right-handed batter has shown red-hot form recently, scoring 260 runs in his last four innings. Shafique was Pakistan's most successful batter in the Headingley Test (76 runs with the help of a fifty in the first innings), and with Babar coming back at 4, he takes up the number three slot in Pakistan's predicted playing XI vs England for the 2nd Test at Lord's. The last time Shafique batted at 3, he struck 184 runs, including a glorious 160*, against the West Indies at the Queen's Park Oval.Middle Order: Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad RizwanCriterionSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableBabarSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSaudSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSalmanSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableRizwanSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableInningsSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table118SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table46SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table53SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table78SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableRunsSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table4674SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table1821SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table1708SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table2674SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableAverageSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table43.7SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table42.4SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table36.3SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table38.8SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table50s/100sSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table33/9SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table10/4SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table12/3SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table14/3SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableBabar Azam: The stylish right-handed batter will be reinstated as Pakistan's designated number 4 batter, having amassed 2867 runs at a magnificent average of 51.20 at that position. Pakistan's middle-order batting will pretty much revolve around Babar, who has played the most matches and has the most runs among all the batters in their Test squad for the England tour. Also Read: Babar Azam Reacts To English Media; Issues Warning To Joe Root And CoSaud Shakeel: The left-handed batter once used to be one of the backbones of the Pakistani batting unit in Tests. However, his performance has dipped of late, with Saud Shakeel scoring 317 runs at a modest average of 19.81 in his last 16 Test innings. Having said that, Shakeel brings experience to the table, having represented Pakistan in 24 Test matches. Ghazi Ghori and Awais Zafar, the reserve batters in the squad, have collectively played 1 Test. As it is a must-win contest for Pakistan, the tourists will likely back Shakeel over the inexperienced duo of Ghori and Zafar. Therefore, despite scoring 19 runs across two innings at Headingley, Saud Shakeel retains his place in Pakistan's predicted playing XI vs England for the Lord's Test. Salman Ali Agha: The experienced all-rounder got a promising start in the first innings of the Leeds Test. Although he failed to capitalise on the start, Salman Ali Agha's reputation and overall record (1708 runs, average- 36.3) help him keep his place in Pakistan's predicted playing XI vs England for the 2nd Test at Lord's. Mohammad Rizwan: The wicketkeeper-batter played a decent knock of 41 runs in the second innings of the Leeds affair. Known for his gritty batting, Rizwan makes it into Pakistan's predicted playing XI vs England for the Lord's contest as the first-choice gloveman. Also Read: Umar Gul Brings ‘Qudrat Ka Nizaam 2.0’ With Weird Excuse For Pakistan's LossBowlers: Mohammad Abbas, Khurram Shahzad, Ubaid Shah, Ali UsmanCriterionSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableAbbasSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableKhurramSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableUbaidSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableAli UsmanSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row 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Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableStrike RateSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table54.4SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table42.5SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table54SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table49.7SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableMohammad Abbas: The right-arm pacer bowls with great control. Mohammad Abbas is vastly experienced when it comes to playing cricket in English conditions, having represented several teams- Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Hampshire- in the tournament. So, he is expected to not only provide timely breakthroughs but also guide Pakistan's young pace battery with his knowledge of the playing conditions in England. Khurram Shahzad: The young fast bowler generates seam movement and can trouble the English batters with some old ball swing as well. Despite being slightly expensive, Khurram Shahzad scalped three wickets in the Headingley Test, finishing the contest as Pakistan's most successful pacer. Therefore, he makes it into Pakistan's predicted playing XI vs England for the 2nd Test. Ubaid Shah: Naseem Shah's brother Ubaid is highly spoken of in the domestic circuit due to his immense potential. Ubaid Shah is a genuinely quick fast bowler, and his ability to generate movement at brisk pace can make him an X-factor in the Pakistani lineup.Ali Usman: The left-arm spinner was the most successful bowler from the touring party at Headingley. Ali Usman registered a historic five-wicket haul, the first by a Pakistani left-arm spinner on English soil. Therefore, he is the only frontline spinner in Pakistan's predicted playing XI vs England for the 2nd Test at Lord's, as we expect Sajid Khan to warm the bench once again. Pakistan's Predicted Playing XI vs England- 2nd Test 2026Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam (C), Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Mohammad Abbas, Khurram Shahzad, Ubaid Shah, Ali UsmanAlso Read: RCB’s Tim David Fails To Fire In ETPL Opener
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