Babar Azam's Test Fate Hangs on a Late Fitness Call Ahead of England Series

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-08-18

Babar Azam's place in Pakistan's first Test against England is still up in the air, with team management holding off on a final decision until the last possible moment. The star batter has been nursing a finger injury on his right hand since the second Test against West Indies, and a fresh blow during a warm-up match has pushed his participation into serious doubt. ### Injury History Raises Fresh Concerns Babar first hurt his hand while batting against the West Indies, and the issue flared up again during Pakistan's practice match against a Professional County Club Select XI in Beckenham. He retired hurt after taking another knock and didn't return to the crease for the rest of that game. The Pakistan Cricket Board described his withdrawal as a precautionary step rather than a confirmed setback, but it left selectors with limited data heading into the series opener. That's a tough spot for any team. You want your best players on the field, but you also don't want to rush someone back and risk a longer layoff. The medical staff has to weigh short-term gain against long-term health, and that's never an easy call. Pakistan touched down in Leeds on Sunday and held their first training session at Headingley on Monday, just two days before the Test begins. Babar joined the nets and faced a short spell of throwdowns, showing no clear signs of pain, but his time at the crease stayed noticeably brief. Team management has stopped short of ruling him in or out, choosing instead to wait on further medical input before finalising the XI. ### Coach Confirms No Decision Yet Coach Mohammad Abbas confirmed that no decision has been reached, and the call will rest with the medical panel and selection committee closer to match day. He noted that Babar completed some throwdowns and batting practice during the session, but stressed that the final word will follow medical clearance rather than visible form. "He looked okay in the nets, but that's not the same as match fitness," Abbas said. "We need the doctors to give us the green light before we commit to anything." Should Babar sit out, Saud Shakeel and Awais Zafar are both likely to slot into the middle order, filling the gap left behind. That's not a bad fallback option, but it's not the same as having your captain and best batter in the lineup. ### Shakeel and Zafar Poised for Middle-Order Roles Shakeel missed the entire West Indies series through injury, while Zafar earned his debut in the second Test of that tour. Shakeel returned to form with a century in the Beckenham warm-up game, a performance that already marked him out as a likely inclusion regardless of Babar's fitness. His century, paired with Zafar's recent introduction to the setup, gives Pakistan two ready options if Babar is forced to sit out the opener. Both players bring different strengths to the table: - Shakeel offers experience and a proven ability to anchor an innings - Zafar brings youthful energy and a fearless approach against pace That kind of depth is exactly what a team wants when facing a tough decision like this one. ### Shan Masood's Recovery Shows Positive Signs Meanwhile, Shan Masood's rehabilitation appears to be progressing well. Masood fractured a finger during the first Test against West Indies and subsequently missed the second match of that series. He sat out the Beckenham warm-up entirely but spent a longer stretch batting in the nets during Monday's session at Headingley, a sign that his recovery is on track. Abbas said Masood trained through the full session and looked sharp, adding that his final involvement will still depend on medical assessment closer to the match. Masood's return would be a boost, but it also raises questions about leadership. Babar took over Test captaincy from Masood at the start of the West Indies series, and his continued absence would leave a leadership question unresolved. Salman Agha, Pakistan's T20I captain, led the side during the Beckenham fixture in Babar's absence but has yet to captain the Test team. That's a lot of uncertainty to carry into a series opener against a strong England side. ### What Happens Next With the series opener just two days away, Pakistan's team combination now depends heavily on what the medical panel decides in the coming hours. The coaching staff has prepared multiple scenarios, but the final call will come down to fitness reports and gut instinct. For fans, it's a waiting game. For the players, it's about staying ready and focused no matter what the selectors decide. Cricket is a game of fine margins, and this situation is a perfect example of how quickly things can change. Keep an eye on the team news over the next 48 hours. The decision on Babar could shape the entire series, and Pakistan will need to get it right if they want to start strong against England.