Pakistan captain Babar Azam will return to the playing XI for the second Test against England at Lord's, beginning Aug. 28, after missing the series opener due to a finger injury.
The Pakistan star batter initially suffered the injury during the team's tour of the West Indies last month. The injury later worsened after he was struck on the finger during Pakistan's practice match at Beckenham in England.
ALSO READ | Is Babar Azam Set To Return For Pakistan In Second Test Against England? What We Know
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the match, Babar said he had regained around 90% of his fitness and confirmed that he would be available for the remainder of the series.
“I had a couple of practice sessions,” Babar said. “I'm 90% fit for tomorrow and the rest of the series.”
His return comes as a major boost for Pakistan, who are looking to recover from a humiliating innings defeat in the first Test at Headingley.
“I think we were not playing up to our mark (in the first Test) but credit to England for the way they are playing. After that we sat to discuss our mistakes, and now we are looking forward to the match, believing in ourselves and we will try to play good cricket,” he added.
The Lord's Test will also mark Babar's first appearance as Pakistan captain on English soil, adding another significant milestone to the upcoming contest.
“Always when you lead the Pakistan team, especially at this ground, it is an honour for me, and I will do my best. If it is on the field as captain or when I'm batting, I will just play my game,” the 31-year-old concluded.
However, his return is set to raise questions over Pakistan's batting combination and who will make way for the captain. If the team opts to leave out 21-year-old youngster Asan Awais, either Shan Masood or Abdullah Shafique may have to move up the order to open the innings.
ALSO READ | India Vs Pakistan: Will Players Shake Hands In Women's Asia Cup 2026 Match In Dubai?
Shan and Abdullah have been among the few bright spots in Pakistan's batting department over the past month, making any potential reshuffle at the top of the order a significant selection decision.
Pakistan are also expected to make changes to their bowling attack after a disappointing performance in the first Test at Leeds, where England's batters took the attack apart, scoring a massive 409 runs in fewer than 90 overs at a run rate of 4.55.
With Babar back in the side and changes likely in the bowling department, Pakistan will hope for a much-improved performance at Lord's as they look to level the series against England.
Essential Business Intelligence, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice, Daily Fuel, Gold and Silver Prices and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.