Blow for Pakistan as captain Babar Azam ruled out of the first Test against England

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The much-anticipated three-match Test series between England and Pakistan is set to get underway today at Headingley in Leeds, but the visitors have suffered a major setback before the opening contest. Pakistan captain Babar Azam has been ruled out of the first Test after failing to recover from a finger injury, leaving the touring side without one of its most experienced batters and leaders.

Babar has been dealing with pain in his finger after being struck during Pakistan’s three-day practice match against the Professional County Club (PCC) Select XI in Beckenham last week. The injury occurred on the final delivery of the 39th over when pacer Manny Lumsden delivered a sharp ball that hit Babar on the finger. The Pakistan batter immediately showed signs of discomfort, dropped his bat and received treatment from the medical staff before leaving the field.

Babar had managed just five runs from 17 deliveries before the injury brought his innings to an early end. The latest blow is particularly concerning because it is the second time in a month that the 31-year-old has been hit on the hand, having suffered a similar incident during Pakistan’s recent Test series against the West Indies.

Pakistan head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed confirmed that Babar remains under observation by the Pakistan Cricket Board‘s medical team. However, the management remains hopeful that he will recover in time for the second Test at Lord’s, scheduled to begin on August 27.

“The medical team is assessing Babar. He has quite a bit of pain in the finger. There are still a few days to go before the second Test. Hopefully, he will recover by then,” Ahmed said.

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With Babar unavailable, Pakistan have handed the captaincy to all-rounder Salman Ali Agha for the opening Test. Ahmed confirmed the decision ahead of the series opener, saying Salman will take charge of the side in Babar’s absence. It will be an important leadership opportunity for the all-rounder, who will have the responsibility of guiding Pakistan through a challenging Test at Headingley.

Pakistan will also hope that their batting unit can compensate for the absence of their regular captain. Babar’s experience and ability to absorb pressure have made him an important part of the team’s Test setup, particularly in overseas conditions.

Babar’s unavailability comes at an unfortunate time for Pakistan, especially after the captain recently helped the team end a long wait for an away Test victory earlier this month. England, meanwhile, will look to take advantage of Pakistan’s weakened leadership group and make a strong start to the series on home soil. The Headingley Test could therefore prove even more demanding for the visitors, who will need their senior players to step up in Babar’s absence.

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