Babar Azam Injured: Pakistan Faces England Without Skipper

Pakistan's cricket team has suffered a major setback ahead of their Test series opener against England. Captain Babar Azam has been declared unavailable for the first Test due to an injury to his right hand, which he sustained during a recent warm-up match. This is the same hand that was previously impacted during a Test series against the West Indies earlier this month.

In Azam's absence, Salman Ali Agha will take over the captaincy for the first Test. The team's coach confirmed that Azam's recovery was not complete in time for the match. Azam's unavailability is a considerable blow to Pakistan's prospects, especially given his recent strong performances and ascent into the top ten of ICC Test batter rankings.

The injury occurred while Azam was batting during a practice match. Although he participated briefly in a practice session on August 17, he was ultimately advised to rest. His absence may also open up opportunities for other players, such as Saud Shakeel, who recently scored a century in a warm-up fixture, to strengthen their case for selection in the playing eleven.