Ban vs Pak: Update on Babar Azam’s injury that ruled him out of the Dhaka Test

Babar Azam was ruled out of the first Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka due to a left knee injury he picked up ahead of the game. 

Babar could return for second Test

Sources have revealed the injury is not severe, and the right-handed batter could rejoin the squad for the second Test match.

Reportedly, Babar felt intense pain in his left knee and informed the management. The management then had him undergo MRI scans and rest as a precaution until May 12. Babar has resumed training as he recovers from the injury.

A rare Babar Azam injury

This was the first time since 2020 that the 31-year-old was left out of a Test due to injury. Since his Test debut, Babar has been a part of all Pakistan’s red-ball games barring eight. 

Out of these, only four came after 2020, twice each against New Zealand in 2020-21, when he was ruled out due to a thumb injury, and England in 2024 after the management decided to rest him midway through the series.

Babar Azam had a phenomenal PSL season, where he top-scored with 588 runs and led his side to their second title. Many fans and pundits were hoping he carried his PSL form into the Test format, where he has not scored a century since 2022.

Pakistan squad for the Dhaka 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.

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