Babar Azam to miss first Test against England due to finger injury

Pakistan captain Babar Azam will miss the opening Test of the three-match series against England due to a finger injury, head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed confirmed on Tuesday.

Salman Ali Agha will captain Pakistan in Babar’s absence in the first Test, which begins at Headingley in Leeds on Wednesday.

Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Sarfaraz said Babar was still experiencing pain and was being assessed by the team’s medical staff.

“He is feeling pain, and the medical team is assessing him. Hopefully, he will be available for the second Test,” Sarfaraz said.

Babar sustained the injury during Pakistan’s practice match against the Professional County Club Select XI in Beckenham last week. He was struck on the finger by a delivery from pacer Manny Lumsden and left the field after scoring five runs off 17 balls.

The incident came shortly after Babar had been hit on the hand during Pakistan’s Test series against the West Indies.

The second Test against England will be played at Lord’s from August 27 to 31, with the third Test scheduled at Edgbaston in Birmingham from September 9 to 13.