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Babar Ruled Out of First Test
Salman Agha will captain Pakistan after Babar Azam was ruled out following a limited nets session and continued medical observation, officials said.
- Pakistan captain Babar Azam will miss the first Test against England on Wednesday at Headingley, with Salman Agha taking over as captain due to a right hand injury sustained in a warm-up match.
- Babar sustained the injury after being struck during Pakistan's warm-up game in Beckenham; the team management decided not to risk him, fearing further damage to the same hand injured earlier this month.
- Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed said, "The medical team is assessing Babar. He has quite a bit of pain in the finger." Officials confirmed no fracture exists in his right middle finger.
- Shan Masood, fully recovered from his own finger fracture, returns to the top order while Saud Shakeel slots into the middle; coach Sarfaraz is considering including Aamer Jamal to strengthen batting depth.
- Agha, the current T20I captain, takes charge of the Test side for the first time. The team remains optimistic about Babar's recovery, hoping he will be available for the second Test.
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Why is Babar Azam Not Playing in PAK vs ENG 1st Test 2026? | 🏏 LatestLY
Pakistan captain Babar Azam has been officially ruled out of the 1st Test against England at Headingley, Leeds, starting August 19, 2026, due to an aggravated right-hand injury. All-rounder Salman Agha will lead the team in his absence, marking his maiden Test captaincy. 🏏 Why is Babar Azam Not Playing in PAK vs ENG 1st Test 2026?.
·Mumbai, India
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L 30%
C 20%
R 50%
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