Babar Azam shows positive signs of comeback ahead of Lord's Test with high-intent net session

Star batter Babar Azam was seen batting inside the Lord's Cricket Ground's indoor net facility on Tuesday, August 25 as Pakistan's preparations for the second Test gathered pace. The clip shows Babar batting with full intensity inside the indoor net area, with a separate panel showing a player in dark green kit wearing a helmet and batting gloves.

The net session follows Babar's absence from the first Test at Headingley, which began on August 19, 2026. The visitors missed Babar's experience badly, as they lost by a huge margin against the Joe Root-led side. Pakistan head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed had confirmed ahead of the first Test that Babar's injury would recuperate before the second encounter, allowing him to take the field at the home of cricket.

The injury was to the middle finger of Babar's right hand. He was first struck on the finger while batting against the West Indies in August 2026 and was then hit again on the same finger during Pakistan's warm-up game in Beckenham, which ruled him out of the Headingley contest.

In Babar's absence, Salman Ali Agha captained Pakistan in the first Test, marking his first time leading the side in Test cricket. England won that match by an innings and 103 runs. Pakistan conceded a 238-run first-innings deficit and were bowled out for 118 in their second innings.

Agha confirmed in the post-match press conference that the mainstay skipper would return for the second game and that he would be happy to hand back the captaincy. The second Test of the three-match series is scheduled at Lord's from August 27 to 31, 2026, with England leading 1-0.

Notably, the ace batter averages 65.75 from four Tests on English soil, making his potential return a significant development for Pakistan's batting order. He took over the Test captaincy from Shan Masood at the start of the series against the West Indies in 2026.

Reports ahead of the Lord's Test indicate that opener Azan Awais could be dropped if Babar returns to the XI. Awais scored 0 in the first innings and 9 in the second innings at Headingley. Separate reports also suggest that wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan could be rested for the second Test, though no official squad announcement has been made at the time of writing.