Babar Azam Suffers Setback After Hand Injury During Practice Match
Babar Azam, Pakistan’s Test captain, has been advised to rest after getting struck on the right hand during the second day of a three-day practice match against Professional County Club Select XI at Kent County Cricket Ground in Beckenham on 15 August.
Babar Azam was hit by a delivery from bowler Manny Lumsden on the final ball of the 39th over, when he had scored only 5 runs. The team doctor examined him quickly and advised him not to participate in the game again, viewing the choice as a precaution rather than a response to a verified major injury.
According to Dawn, the Pakistan Cricket Board has confirmed that Babar Azam will join the squad’s training session at Headingley Cricket Ground on August 17, the Monday before the inaugural Test. Pakistan’s first Test against England begins on August 19 at Headingley, and the series will continue at Lord’s and The Oval.
Notably, Babar Azam hand has been struck twice in the last month. He received a similar blow during Pakistan’s Test series against the West Indies, thus the recent event is a source of concern for the team’s medical staff.
How did Pakistan’s tour match at Beckenham unfold?
The Beckenham match was originally scheduled for four days before being reduced to three due to player availability issues. The complete 14-man Pakistan Test squad took part in the match, providing each member of the touring party time in the middle under English conditions.
PCC Select XI scored 305 in their first innings. Pakistan opened their reply on the second day at 44 without loss but were unable to build on that foundation, finally getting bowled for 238 and losing by 67 runs in the first innings. The match gave Pakistan’s batters and bowlers a thorough evaluation of English pitches ahead of the Test series opener.
What is Babar Azam availability situation for the first Test?
The PCB has not disclosed the specific medical results from the Beckenham evaluation. The board’s public position is that the rest was preventative, and no statement has suggested Babar’s spot in the first Test is in jeopardy.
The announcement that he will train at Headingley on August 17 suggests that management expects him to be available for the series opener. No successor has been named, and the squad’s composition remains intact. Pakistan’s medical personnel will monitor his condition over the following few days until the Test, which begins on August 19.
The three-match series is a huge challenge for Pakistan, and Babar Azam fitness will be scrutinised as the management finalises their preparations at Headingley.
