Why is Babar Azam not playing in ENG vs PAK 1st Test?

The Pakistan side has faced a massive blow for their opening Test of the three-match series against England at Leeds in Headingley as their captain and the veteran batter, Babar Azam, has been ruled out of the contest due to the finger injury that he picked up for the first time during the second Test in the Caribbean and later in the three-day warm-up clash in Beckenham.

Once Babar was hit by the good length raising delivery in the practice game, he looked in serious pain and didn’t take any part for the rest of the encounter. He was advised of medical rest two days before the game and seen to be batting in the nets for a brief period on the eve of the game.

Babar ruled out with a finger injury sustained in the England warm-up game

The Pakistan coach, Sarfaraz Ahmed, during the press conference confirmed that Babar won’t take part in the opening Test. In Babar Azam’s absence, Salman Ali Agha will be leading the side, which will put himself under massive pressure given his poor run of form.

“Pakistan captain Babar Azam is unavailable for the first Test match. The medical team is assessing Babar. He has quite a bit of pain in the finger. There are still a few days to go before the second Test. Hopefully, he will recover by then.” Sarfaraz expressed in the presser.

Agha, who has never led the Pakistan side in the red-ball format, is one of the regular members of the two white-ball formats of the game and managed only 20 runs in the three innings he batted in the series.

Babar's absence is a major blow as Pakistan chase their first Test series win in England in 30 years

Babar’s absence in the playing XI will be a massive headache for the Pakistan management in selection of the side. Shan Masood is expected to get slotted in the top order with Saud Shakeel coming in the middle order.

The former, who was stuck on his hand in the first Test of the West Indies trip by Jayden Seales’ delivery, didn’t take part in the three-day warm-up game. That always keeps the clouds over his position in the side, despite the century he got.

Babar was the leading run-getter of the series against the Roston Chase-led side when he smashed two half-centuries and ended the second game with two superb sixes. There is a chance of Aamer Jamal getting into the XI of the side to strengthen their batting.