Babar Azam Ruled Out of First Test Against England

LEEDS: (Staff Reporter) – Pakistan captain Babar Azam has been ruled out of the first Test against England due to injury, with Salman Agha set to lead the side in his absence.

Pakistan Red Ball team head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed confirmed Babar’s unavailability during a press conference in Leeds, saying the team’s medical staff is closely monitoring his condition.

Sarfaraz expressed hope that Babar will recover in time to feature in the second Test of the series.

The coach said Pakistan’s recent victory in the practice match had boosted the team’s confidence ahead of the opening Test. He added that the management was still assessing the best combination for the conditions in England.

Sarfaraz identified Mohammad Abbas as a potentially important part of Pakistan’s bowling attack, particularly given the conditions expected for the Test.

He also confirmed that Shan Masood is fully fit and available for selection.

Despite Babar’s absence, Sarfaraz remained confident in Pakistan’s batting resources. He said Babar is in good form but backed other batters, including Saud Shakeel, to perform in the middle order.

The coach acknowledged that losing a key player inevitably creates a setback but said the team has confidence in the players available for the opening Test.

Sarfaraz added that Babar’s presence would normally allow Pakistan to experiment with different combinations, but the team must now find an effective balance without its regular captain.

Pakistan will be hoping that its preparation and recent practice-match success translate into a strong performance when the Test series against England gets underway.