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Babar Azam ruled out of first Test against England
Pakistan captain Babar Azam has been ruled out of the first Test against England at Headingley due to a right-hand finger injury. The injury occurred during a warm-up match against a Professional County Club Select XI when Azam was struck by a delivery from fast bowler Manny Lumsden.
Pakistan head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed confirmed that while there is no fracture, the swelling and pain make Azam unavailable for the opening match of the three-Test series. All-rounder Salman Ali Agha has been appointed to captain the side in Azam's absence.
Medical staff are monitoring Azam in hopes of his return for the second Test at Lord's. Meanwhile, former captain Shan Masood has been cleared to play after recovering from a previous finger injury. The loss of Azam is considered a significant setback for Pakistan as they face a challenging series in English conditions.
Entities
Babar Azam · England · England cricket team · Headingley · Mohammad Abbas · Pakistan Cricket Board · Pakistan cricket team · Salman Ali Agha · Sarfaraz Ahmed · Shan Masood
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Test captain Shan Masood has been recovering from a fractured finger and participated in net sessions. theneutral.pk
- [● 2 SOURCES] Babar Azam sustained an impact injury to his right hand during a warm-up match against the Professional County Club Select XI. theneutral.pk · www.india.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Pakistan is ranked 8th in the nine-team ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 points table. www.india.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Babar Azam was advised to rest from the remainder of the practice match as a precautionary measure following a hand injury. www.india.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The final decision regarding Babar Azam’s availability for the first Test will be made on match day based on medical advice. theneutral.pk