KARACHI: Pakistan batter Babar Azam has been ruled out of the first Test match against Bangladesh in Dhaka due to a left knee injury, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Thursday.
The PCB said the 31-year-old sustained the injury and will not be available for the first Test, scheduled to begin on Friday at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.
“Pakistan batter Babar Azam will not be available for the first Test match against Bangladesh due to an injury in his left knee,” the PCB said in a statement.
“The team’s medical panel is currently assessing his condition. Further updates will be shared in due course,” it added.
The cricket board said its medical panel is currently evaluating the nature of the injury.
Pakistan are set to play Bangladesh in a two-Test series, part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 cycle.
The first Test will be played from May 8 to 12 in Dhaka, while the second Test is scheduled in Sylhet from May 16 to 20.
Babar’s absence is a significant blow for Pakistan, given his recent batting form.
He was the leading run-scorer in Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11, scoring 588 runs in 11 innings at an average of 73.02 and a strike rate of 145.90.
His tournament included two centuries and three half-centuries.
Following a century in the PSL Qualifier against Islamabad United, Babar had said he felt close to returning to his best form.
Pakistan squad for Bangladesh Test series
Pakistan have named a 16-member squad for the series, led by captain Shan Masood.
The squad includes Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Azan Awais, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Pakistan last toured Bangladesh in 2021, winning the two-Test series 2-0.
