Babar hurt, withdraws from practice match

Pakistan Test captain Babar Azam has been advised to take rest for the remainder of the ongoing three-day practice match against the Professional County Club (PCC) Select XI after being struck on his right hand.

Babar sustained the injury on the second day of the practice fixture, prompting the Pakistan team’s medical staff to assess it. Following an examination by the team doctor, the team management decided to take a precautionary approach and withdraw the star batter from the remaining match.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said Babar had been advised to rest after the assessment, with no immediate indication that the injury would prevent him from continuing with the team’s preparations.

“Following an assessment by the team doctor and taking precautionary measures, Babar has been advised to take rest from the remaining practice match,” the PCB said.

The development comes as Pakistan fine-tune their preparations in England, where the team is using the practice match against PCC Select XI to assess players and conditions ahead of their upcoming Test commitments.

Babar’s availability for the next stage of preparations will be closely watched, given his importance to Pakistan’s batting line-up and his role as Test captain.

The PCB, however, confirmed that the batter is expected to return to training shortly. Babar will participate in Pakistan’s practice session on Monday, August 17, at Headingley Cricket Ground.

His planned return to training will provide some reassurance to the Pakistan camp, particularly as the decision to rest him appears to have been made as a precaution following the blow rather than as an indication of a serious injury.

Babar remains one of Pakistan’s key batting figures across formats, and his presence is central to the side’s preparations for the challenges ahead.