Babar Azam doubtful for Headingley opener as Pakistan defer decision to match day

Babar Azam is doubtful for the opening Test between England and Pakistan at Headingley, scheduled to begin on August 19, 2026. Pakistan's management confirmed on August 17 that a final call on his availability would be made on match day, subject to an assessment by the team's medical staff.

The squad flew into Leeds on August 16, 2026, and held their first session at Headingley the following morning. Babar did take part in batting practice that day, facing throwdowns for a brief period, though he spent considerably less time in the nets than his teammates. The exact nature and severity of the injury have not been disclosed by the team management.

Mohammad Abbas spoke to the media on Monday, August 17, and made clear that the team would not rush a decision.

"Whether he plays or not will be a decision taken on match day. He did a few throwdowns and some batting practice today. But we'll have to follow medical advice for it," Abbas told reporters as quoted by Cricinfo.

Shan Masood's fitness update

Shan Masood is also being monitored ahead of the match. He sustained a fractured finger during the first Test in the Caribbean, which ruled him out of the second match of that series. Shan sat out the Beckenham warm-up entirely but completed a full batting session at Headingley on Monday.

"With Shan, too, we're just going to rely on the medical advice. Shan practised for the whole session and looked very good," Abbas updated.

Who could replace Babar in Pakistan's middle order if he misses out?

Babar assumed the Test captaincy from Shan at the beginning of the West Indies series. With Babar absent in Beckenham, Salman Ali Agha captained the side in that warm-up fixture. Salman, who holds the T20I captaincy, has not skippered Pakistan in a Test match, so any absence at Headingley would require the management to clarify the leadership arrangement for the match.

Should Babar be ruled out, Pakistan are expected to field both Saud Shakeel and Awais Zafar in the middle order. Saud was unavailable for the West Indies series but made an immediate impact on his return, scoring a century against Professional County Club Select XI in the Beckenham warm-up. Awais made his Test debut in the second match against the Caribbeans and could keep his place if the captain were absent.

Pakistan's squad for England tour:

Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Salman Agha, Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Aamir Jamal, Ghazi Ghori, Sajid Khan, Shan Masood, Mohammad Rizwan, Khurram Shahzad, Abdullah Shafique, Saud Shakeel, Ubaid Shah, Ali Usman and Awais Zafar.