Pakistan Test captain Babar Azam has been advised to rest after being struck on the right hand during the second day of a three-day practice match against Professional County Club Select XI at Kent County Cricket Ground in Beckenham on August 15.
Babar was hit by a delivery from pacer Manny Lumsden on the final ball of the 39th over, at which point he had scored just 5 runs. The team doctor examined him promptly and recommended he take no further part in the fixture, treating the decision as a precaution rather than a response to a confirmed serious injury.
According to news outlet Dawn, the Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed that Babar is scheduled to join the squad's training session at Headingley Cricket Ground on August 17, which falls on the Monday before the opening Test. Pakistan's first Test against England gets under way at Headingley on August 19, with the series continuing at Lord's and The Oval.
Notably, this is the second occasion within a month that Babar has been struck on the hand. He suffered a comparable blow during Pakistan's Test series against West Indies, making the latest incident a point of close attention for the team's medical staff.
How did Pakistan's tour match at Beckenham unfold?
The Beckenham fixture was originally planned as a four-day contest before being trimmed to three days owing to player availability constraints. The entire 14-member Pakistan Test squad was involved across the match, giving every member of the touring party time in the middle under English conditions.
PCC Select XI posted 305 in their first innings. Pakistan began their reply on the second day at 44 without loss but could not build on that platform, eventually being dismissed for 238 and conceding a first-innings deficit of 67 runs. The match provided Pakistan's batters and bowlers with a meaningful examination of English pitches ahead of the Test series opener.
What is Babar's availability outlook for the first Test?
The PCB has not disclosed the precise medical findings from the assessment carried out at Beckenham. The board's public position is that the rest was precautionary, and no statement has suggested Babar's place in the first Test is in doubt.
The confirmation that he will train at Headingley on August 17 indicates the management expects him to be available for the series opener. No replacement has been named, and the squad composition remains unchanged. Pakistan's medical staff will monitor his condition over the next few days before the Test begins on August 19.
The three-match series represents a significant assignment for Pakistan, and Babar's fitness will remain under scrutiny as the management finalises their preparations at Headingley.