Babar Azam ruled out of first Bangladesh Test due to knee injury

KARACHI: Star batter Babar Azam has been ruled out of Pakistan’s opening Test against Bangladesh due to a knee injury, the Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed on Thursday.

According to the board, the 31-year-old suffered an injury to his left knee and will not be available for the first Test scheduled to be played from May 8 to 12 at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

In a statement, the PCB said the team’s medical panel was currently assessing Babar’s condition and further updates regarding his fitness would be shared later.

“Pakistan batter Babar Azam will not be available for the first Test match against Bangladesh due to an injury in his left knee,” the board said.

Babar’s absence comes as a major setback for Pakistan, particularly after his outstanding performance in Pakistan Super League season 11.

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Representing Peshawar Zalmi, Babar finished as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 588 runs in 11 innings at an average of 73.02 and a strike-rate of 145.90, including two centuries and three half-centuries.

Following his century against Islamabad United in the qualifier, which helped Peshawar Zalmi reach the final, Babar had said he felt he was returning to his best form.

Pakistan’s squad for the Bangladesh series includes Shan Masood (captain), Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Hasan Ali and Imam-ul-Haq among others.