Pakistan Captain Doubtful for 1st England Test

Pakistan’s cricket captain Babar Azam faces a significant challenge for the upcoming first Test against England due to his ongoing finger injury. The injury was sustained during Pakistan’s second Test match against the West Indies, where Azam sustained a blow to his right hand while batting, and subsequently withdrew from the game.

The Pakistan Cricket Board deemed the decision to be precautionary. Upon arriving in Leeds and holding their initial training session at Headingley, Babar Azam attempted to bat in the nets but did not devote significant time to it.

Babar Azam’s fitness is crucial, with the final decision on his availability for the Test match to be made on match day following a review of medical advice. Mohammad Abbas, Pakistan’s fast bowler, stated that Azam had carried out limited batting practice and throwdowns in training, but emphasized the importance of adhering to medical advice.

If Babar Azam is ruled out of contention, Saud Shakeel and Awais Zafar are anticipated to take up key roles in Pakistan’s middle order. Shakeel had already scored a century in a recent warm-up match.

On a more optimistic note, Pakistan’s captain Shan Masood, who has been recuperating from a fractured finger, performed well during the net session and was described as "looking very good" by Abbas. Babar Azam assumed the role of Test captain from Masood at the beginning of the West Indies series. In the event that both Babar Azam and Shan Masood are unable to play, Salman Agha might face an additional challenge of leadership, although he has not captained Pakistan in a Test match previously.