{
  "id": 5004061,
  "title": "Pakistan captain Babar Azam develops fever amid Test team drama in England",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/pakistan-captain-babar-azam-develops-fever-amid-test-team-drama-in",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-02T03:41:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/pakistan-captain-babar-azam-develops-fever-test-team-drama-england-10859639/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Pakistan's captain Babar Azam has fallen ill with a fever while his team is facing a dire situation in the ongoing England Test series. This is the second successive defeat for the Pakistani team, following a major squad reshuffle. Babar Azam, who was reinstated as Test captain just a month ago, is now struggling with both his form and off-field issues. Despite his fever, he is expected to be fit again within a week, according to Pakistan team manager Naveed Akram Cheema. Pakistan's management has undergone significant changes following the defeat in England, with several key members being released from the team, including head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed, bowling coach Umar Gul, and chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq. New Zealander Mike Hesson, who is already Pakistan's white-ball head coach, will continue to lead the Test side for the remainder of the tour, with Ashley Noffke as his bowling coach. Additionally, five uncapped players have been added to the team, bringing their combined Test experience to 10 matches. Pakistan's performance has been poor, with their last 11 away Test matches resulting in ten losses, leaving them at the bottom of the ICC World Test Championship standings with a dismal 16.67 points percentage.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "BBC Sport",
        "title": "Pakistan drop seven players and release head coach",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/pakistan-drop-seven-players-and-release-head-coach",
        "published": "2026-08-31T16:20:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ESPNcricinfo",
        "title": "Pakistan send seven players home and bring in Hesson to coach Test side",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/pakistan-send-seven-players-home-and-bring-in-hesson-to-coach-test",
        "published": "2026-08-31T16:25:26.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Times of India",
        "title": "Major shake-up in Pakistan cricket: Seven players, coaches Sarfaraz, Gul released",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/major-shake-up-in-pakistan-cricket-seven-players-coaches-sarfaraz-gul",
        "published": "2026-08-31T17:06:47.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "'T20 players included for Tests': Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik slam Pakistan selectors over squad selection amid chaos in England tour",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/t20-players-included-for-tests-shahid-afridi-shoaib-malik-slam",
        "published": "2026-09-01T04:38:09.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Pakistan ditch coaches, send seven players home after England defeats",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/pakistan-ditch-coaches-send-seven-players-home-after-england-defeats",
        "published": "2026-09-01T05:52:29.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Island Sri Lanka",
        "title": "Misbah-ul-Haq resigns as Pakistan selector after Test squad upheaval",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/misbah-ul-haq-resigns-as-pakistan-selector-after-test-squad-upheaval-4881301",
        "published": "2026-09-01T14:53:38.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}