Pakistan provide update on Babar Azam ahead of Lord's Test
Pakistan's Test skipper Babar Azam is recovering from a finger injury sustained in the West Indies, which was aggravated during a practice game at Beckenham.
Babar Azam, who sat out of the first ICC World Test Championship 2025-2027 match against England due to a finger injury, is set to make a return for the Lord's Test commencing on August 27.
Babar was seen batting at Lord's on Tuesday and Pakistan's bowling coach Umar Gul confirmed the skipper was in line to return for the second Test against England that commences on Thursday.
"Babar batted in the nets, faced fast bowlers, spinners and throwdowns," Gul said.
"We're hopeful he will be available for the game and today he was looking good; he batted well in the nets. He had a full batting session."
Babar was the highest run-getter for Pakistan in their previous series against the West Indies where he notched up 193 runs, including two half-centuries.
The right-hander has also scored three half-centuries in six innings, averaging 65.75 in England and against the hosts averages 53.83, across 14 innings against them, with six fifties and a century.
Babar's return will prove to be a boost for Pakistan who suffered a huge defeat in the Headingley Test, where the tourists lost by an innings and 103 runs.
Series schedule:
First Test: August 19-23, Headingley (England won by an innings and 103 runs)
Second Test: August 27-31, Lord's
Third Test: September 9-13, Edgbaston