- Pakistan captain Babar Azam has been ruled out of the upcoming first Test match against England at Headingley after failing to recover from a hand injury sustained during a warm-up game at Beckenham.
- Off-spinning all-rounder Salman Agha will step up to captain the national side in Test cricket for the first time in Babar Azam's absence, as confirmed by head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed.
- The Pakistan team management remains optimistic that Babar Azam will be fit enough to return to the side for the second Test at Lord's next week.
- Middle-order batter Saud Shakeel is in line to return to the Pakistan starting XI alongside Shan Masood, who is also primed to return following an injury layout.
- The fixture comes at a critical juncture for both nations, with Pakistan currently sitting second from bottom in the World Test Championship standings, just one place behind England.
IN FULL
