Babar Azam returned to net practice at Headingley but Pakistan are yet to confirm whether their Test captain will feature in the first match against England.
Pakistan are still waiting for a final medical decision on Babar Azam ahead of the opening Test against England after the Pakistan captain suffered another blow to his right hand during a warm-up match.
Babar was struck while batting against the Professional County Club Select XI, with a rising delivery from England Under-19 pacer Manny Lumsden hitting his bottom hand. The batter, who had previously injured the same hand during Pakistan’s tour of the West Indies, appeared uncomfortable and did not continue his innings.
The Pakistan Cricket Board subsequently advised Babar to rest for the remainder of the practice fixture as a precaution. The board had also confirmed that he would return to training ahead of the first Test at Headingley.
Babar took part in Pakistan’s net session on Monday, August 17, and completed some batting practice. However, his stint was relatively short, with the batter showing no obvious signs of discomfort during the session.
Pakistan pacer Mohammad Abbas said the team had not yet made a final decision regarding Babar’s participation. He indicated that the final call would depend on medical advice and could be taken as late as match day.
Babar’s availability is particularly important for Pakistan after his recent return as Test captain. The 31-year-old remains a key figure in the team’s batting lineup and will be expected to provide stability against a strong England side.
Pakistan enter the series with renewed confidence after drawing their previous Test series in the West Indies 1-1. Their victory in the second Test also ended a run of eight successive overseas Test defeats.
The three-match series begins on August 19 at Headingley, followed by the second Test at Lord’s from August 27 and the third at Edgbaston from September 9. All three matches form part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27.
Pakistan are currently eighth in the WTC standings with a points percentage of 22.22, while England sit seventh on 24.36.
The visitors have received another boost with Shan Masood returning from injury, but Babar’s fitness remains the major concern ahead of the series opener.