Prolific Babar Azam ruled out of series opener against Bangladesh
By Nawaz Gohar ; Pakistan’s aspirations for a dominant start to their Test campaign in Bangladesh have encountered a significant hurdle. Star batter Babar Azam has been ruled out of the opening match of the two-Test series due to a left knee injury, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed on Thursday.
The 31-year-old, who has been the cornerstone of Pakistan’s batting across formats, will miss the first Test scheduled to commence at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on May 8. According to an official statement from the PCB, the team’s medical panel is currently monitoring the situation to determine the severity of the injury.
“Pakistan batter Babar Azam will not be available for the first Test match against Bangladesh due to an injury in his left knee,” the PCB stated. “The team’s medical panel is currently assessing his condition. Further updates will be shared in due course.”
The timing of the injury is particularly unfortunate for the visiting side. Babar is currently enjoying a phenomenal run of form, having finished as the top run-getter in the recently concluded PSL 11. During the tournament, he amassed 588 runs at a staggering average of 73.02, leading Peshawar Zalmi to the championship title.
His recent performances in the PSL Qualifiers had many experts suggesting the former captain was back to his clinical best, making his absence from the red-ball opener a tactical challenge for skipper Shan Masood.
The series, part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–27, is vital for Pakistan’s standing in the league table. Currently sitting in fifth place with a 50% win ratio, the Men in Green are eager to climb the ladder, while Bangladesh, positioned eighth, will look to capitalize on the absence of Pakistan’s premier anchor.
While the medical team evaluates Babar’s fitness for the second Test in Sylhet (May 16–20), the focus now shifts to the remaining squad members to fill the massive void in the middle order.
Pakistan Squad for the First Test: Shan Masood (c), Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Azan Awais, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
