Pakistan Test captain and talismanic batter Babar Azam has suffered an injury scare ahead of the first Test against England in Leeds on August 19. Batting against Professional County Club Select XI in Pakistan’s lone warm-up fixture, Babar was forced to retire hurt on five after being hit on the right hand. The incident took place on the second day of the practice game, with a PCB spokesperson confirming Babar’s unavailability for the remainder of the match. &nbsp;That spokesperson, however, confirmed that "Babar will participate in Pakistan team's practice session on Monday at Headingley Cricket Ground." &nbsp;Meanwhile, in reply to PCC’s first innings score of 305, Pakistan made 238, with England’s first-choice spinner Shoaib Bashir returning with four for 76. Teenage medium-pacer Manny Lumsden also impressed with his 2/24 at Beckenham ground in Kent, southeast England. At stumps on day 2, the PCC was 128 for three, leading by 195 runs.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-sl-shubman-gill-wtc-final-600th-test-1786760878245">IND vs SL 2026: Ahead of India’s 600th Test, Shubman Gill sets eyes on the WTC Final</a> &nbsp;On the other hand, England opening batsman Emilio Gay registered a pair against Pakistan, and will arrive at Headingley with his recent form struggles further compounded. Gay, looking to prove his fitness after suffering a shoulder injury playing for Durham in the One-Day Cup last week, faced just seven balls on Friday in an innings that ended when he edged behind off Mohammad Ali.<h2>Pakistan’s First UK Test Series Since 2020</h2>Babar Azam-led Pakistan will play a Test match in England for the first time since 2020. Although the two teams have faced off in several white-ball series in the UK, with Pakistan also hosting England twice in Tests in the meantime, the Leeds Test will be the first on English soil in over six years. &nbsp;Pakistan is ninth in the WTC standings for the current cycle, and will enter this series on the back of a 1-1 series in the Caribbean. Although their chances of making the WTC Final next year are bleak, winning the Test series in England for the first time since 1996 would be Babar’s first goal.&nbsp;&nbsp;Pakistan will face England across three Tests this time, starting in Leeds, Lord's (Aug 27-31) and Birmingham (Sep 9-13).

Babar Azam suffered an injury scare ahead of the 1st Test against England at Headingley, retiring hurt during Pakistan's warm-up fixture against PCC XI.

Pakistan Test captain and talismanic batter Babar Azam has suffered an injury scare ahead of the first Test against England in Leeds on August 19. Batting against Professional County Club Select XI in Pakistan’s lone warm-up fixture, Babar was forced to retire hurt on five after being hit on the right hand. The incident took place on the second day of the practice game, with a PCB spokesperson confirming Babar’s unavailability for the remainder of the match. That spokesperson, however, confirmed that "Babar will participate in Pakistan team's practice session on Monday at Headingley Cricket Ground." Meanwhile, in reply to PCC’s first innings score of 305, Pakistan made 238, with England’s first-choice spinner Shoaib Bashir returning with four for 76. Teenage medium-pacer Manny Lumsden also impressed with his 2/24 at Beckenham ground in Kent, southeast England. At stumps on day 2, the PCC was 128 for three, leading by 195 runs. Also read| IND vs SL 2026: Ahead of India’s 600th Test, Shubman Gill sets eyes on the WTC Final On the other hand, England opening batsman Emilio Gay registered a pair against Pakistan, and will arrive at Headingley with his recent form struggles further compounded. Gay, looking to prove his fitness after suffering a shoulder injury playing for Durham in the One-Day Cup last week, faced just seven balls on Friday in an innings that ended when he edged behind off Mohammad Ali. Pakistan’s First UK Test Series Since 2020 Babar Azam-led Pakistan will play a Test match in England for the first time since 2020. Although the two teams have faced off in several white-ball series in the UK, with Pakistan also hosting England twice in Tests in the meantime, the Leeds Test will be the first on English soil in over six years. Pakistan is ninth in the WTC standings for the current cycle, and will enter this series on the back of a 1-1 series in the Caribbean. Although their chances of making the WTC Final next year are bleak, winning the Test series in England for the first time since 1996 would be Babar’s first goal. Pakistan will face England across three Tests this time, starting in Leeds, Lord's (Aug 27-31) and Birmingham (Sep 9-13).

Babar Azam suffered an injury scare ahead of the 1st Test against England at Headingley, retiring hurt during Pakistan's warm-up fixture against PCC XI.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam suffers injury scare ahead of 1st Test vs England

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam has been ruled out of the second Test against New Zealand after failing to recover sufficiently from a right thumb fracture, the country’s cricket board said on Saturday. The match is scheduled to be played in Hagley Oval on Sunday.&nbsp;

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“Pakistan men’s national team captain Babar Azam will miss the second Test against New Zealand, which commences at the Hagley Oval from Sunday. In his absence, Mohammad Rizwan will lead the side,” the PCB said in a statement.

“Babar had a full-fledge&nbsp;training session yesterday but felt slight pain in his thumb, following which, the team management has opted against taking any risk.”

The 26-year-old sustained a fracture in his right thumb during a practice session in Queenstown and has now missed the three-match Twenty20 series and the two Tests and Mohammad Rizwan was named as the stand-in skipper.&nbsp;

“We have seen improvement in Babar Azam’s injury but he is yet to fully recover. He is our captain and the most important batsman in the lineup, so we do not want to take any risk. The medical team is constantly reviewing his injury and we are hopeful he will be available for the home series against South Africa,” Dr Sohail Saleem, PCB’s Medical and Sports Sciences Head said.

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam has been ruled out of the second Test against New Zealand after failing to recover sufficiently from a right thumb fracture, the country’s cricket board said on Saturday.

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam has been ruled out of the second Test against New Zealand after failing to recover sufficiently from a right thumb fracture, the country’s cricket board said on Saturday. The match is scheduled to be played in Hagley Oval on Sunday. Also read: 'Very disciplined' - Marnus Labuschagne lauds Indian bowlers but wants Aussies to 'grind' for runs “Pakistan men’s national team captain Babar Azam will miss the second Test against New Zealand, which commences at the Hagley Oval from Sunday. In his absence, Mohammad Rizwan will lead the side,” the PCB said in a statement. “Babar had a full-fledge training session yesterday but felt slight pain in his thumb, following which, the team management has opted against taking any risk.” The 26-year-old sustained a fracture in his right thumb during a practice session in Queenstown and has now missed the three-match Twenty20 series and the two Tests and Mohammad Rizwan was named as the stand-in skipper. “We have seen improvement in Babar Azam’s injury but he is yet to fully recover. He is our captain and the most important batsman in the lineup, so we do not want to take any risk. The medical team is constantly reviewing his injury and we are hopeful he will be available for the home series against South Africa,” Dr Sohail Saleem, PCB’s Medical and Sports Sciences Head said.

Skipper Babar Azam ruled out of final Test against New Zealand after failing to recover from thumb injury

Pakistan cricket team suffered a big blow as their skipper Babar Azam was ruled out of the three-match T20 series against the Kiwis on Sunday. This news comes after Babar Azam fractured his right thumb during a practice session.&nbsp;

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According to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the batting mainstay will not be able to attend the practice for at least 12 days. Babar will be looking to get fit before the opening match of the two-match Test series that is scheduled to be played from December 26.&nbsp;

“I have spoken with Babar and he is sad to miss the T20I series, as he was fully focused and keenly looking forward to the T20Is,” Pakistan head coach Misbah-ul-Haq said the second-ranked T20 batsman in the world.

“We have a long season of cricket ahead and we now hope that he regains complete fitness as early as possible so that he can return to competitive cricket,” Misbah said in a statement.

Recently, Imam-ul-Haq, who is Pakistan's top-order batsman, also sustained a fracture in his left thumb during the practice session. Shadab Khan, Pakistan's, T20 vice-captain, was also carrying a groin niggle, the cricket board said.

The first T20 between Pakistan and Auckland will be played on Friday.&nbsp;

Pakistan cricket team suffered a big blow as their skipper Babar Azam was ruled out of the three-match T20 series against the Kiwis on Sunday. This news comes after Babar Azam fractured his right thumb during a practice session.

Pakistan cricket team suffered a big blow as their skipper Babar Azam was ruled out of the three-match T20 series against the Kiwis on Sunday. This news comes after Babar Azam fractured his right thumb during a practice session. Also read: Sunil Gavaskar picks this batsman who will bat at No.4 after Virat Kohli leaves According to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the batting mainstay will not be able to attend the practice for at least 12 days. Babar will be looking to get fit before the opening match of the two-match Test series that is scheduled to be played from December 26. “I have spoken with Babar and he is sad to miss the T20I series, as he was fully focused and keenly looking forward to the T20Is,” Pakistan head coach Misbah-ul-Haq said the second-ranked T20 batsman in the world. “We have a long season of cricket ahead and we now hope that he regains complete fitness as early as possible so that he can return to competitive cricket,” Misbah said in a statement. Recently, Imam-ul-Haq, who is Pakistan's top-order batsman, also sustained a fracture in his left thumb during the practice session. Shadab Khan, Pakistan's, T20 vice-captain, was also carrying a groin niggle, the cricket board said. The first T20 between Pakistan and Auckland will be played on Friday.

Pak vs NZ: Skipper Babar Azam ruled out of T20 series due to fractured thumb