ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s hopes of starting their three-match Test series against England on a winning note hang in the balance as captain Babar Azam’s participation in the opening match remains subject to clearance from the Pakistan Cricket Board’s medical team, pacer Mohammad Abbas confirmed on Monday.
The star batter, who recently led Pakistan to a historic away Test victory, suffered a blow to his finger during a three-day practice match against the Professional County Club (PCC) Select XI in Beckenham last week.
Babar Azam is just knocking today, not taking part in full training ahead of the first Test at Headingley. 👀
Full training video on my YouTube Channel… link in bio pic.twitter.com/f52fxszRou
— Abu Bakar Tarar (@abubakartarar_) August 17, 2026
The incident occurred on the final delivery of the 39th over when pacer Manny Lumsden bowled a sharp delivery that struck Babar on the finger.
Babar immediately appeared in visible pain, dropped his bat and received medical attention before walking off the field. He had scored five runs from 17 deliveries before the injury. Notably, this marked the second time in a month that Babar had been struck on the hand, following a similar incident during Pakistan’s Test series against the West Indies.
Read Also: Babar Azam Hit on Finger, Forced to Miss Rest of Warm-Up Match
Medical team advises precautionary rest from practice match
The PCB later confirmed that Babar had been advised to miss the remainder of the practice game as a precautionary measure. The three-match away series against England is slated to commence on August 19.
The cricket board had further shared that the Pakistan captain would participate in the practice session scheduled at Headingley Cricket Ground in Leeds on August 17. While Babar was seen training with his national teammates at Headingley, his participation in the series opener remained unconfirmed.
Final decision on match day, confirms Abbas
Speaking at a press conference at Headingley, Abbas provided a crucial update on Babar’s fitness and availability.
“Whether he plays or not will be a decision taken on match day,” Abbas stated in response to a question regarding the captain’s availability for the first England Test.
M ABBAS ON BABAR AZAM: (Press)
– Mohammad Abbas said,” A decision by the medical panel and the selection committee had not yet been taken. Whether he plays or not will be a decision taken on match day. He did a few throwdowns and some batting practice today. But we’ll have to…
— Rana Ahmad. (@AhmadRana056) August 17, 2026
“He did a few throwdowns and some batting practice today. But we’ll have to follow medical advice for it,” he added, indicating that while the captain is making efforts to regain fitness, the final call rests with the PCB medical team.
Babar’s absence could be a major blow for Pakistan
Babar’s absence would be a significant setback for Pakistan, who are aiming to build on their recent success in red-ball cricket. The captain has been in exceptional form and his leadership was instrumental in Pakistan’s drought-ending away Test victory earlier this month.
GREEN SHIRTS IN LEEDS 🇵🇰
– Pakistan team held their first training session at Headingley Cricket Ground, Leeds, ahead of the first Test against England.
– All players took part in the training session, with Babar Azam also participating in batting and fielding practice.
– The… pic.twitter.com/lLE3n5IwmP
— Mian Ahmad (@aHmADmIaN150) August 17, 2026
The series against England represents a major challenge for the Green Shirts, and losing their captain and premier batter on the eve of the first Test would be a considerable blow to the team’s balance and confidence.
Pakistan’s batting lineup heavily relies on Babar’s experience and ability to anchor innings, and his absence would place additional pressure on the middle order to deliver against a formidable England bowling attack.
Looking ahead
Pakistan will continue their preparations at Headingley ahead of the series opener. All eyes will be on the PCB medical team’s assessment on match day, with fans and team management hoping for a positive update on the captain’s fitness.
Read Also: Can Captain-again Babar Azam Show Pakistan Team The Way Up?
The first Test is scheduled to begin on August 19, and Pakistan will be eager to field their strongest XI, with Babar’s availability remaining the single most important selection decision ahead of the match.
