Pakistan batter Babar Azam is set to play in the second Test against Bangladesh in Sylhet, starting May 16. He missed the first Test in Dhaka due to a knee injury, which resulted in Pakistan losing by 104 runs. His return is a welcome addition for the team, which struggled to chase a target of 268 runs on the last day.
Babar had a strong performance in the recently completed Pakistan Super League 2026 (PSL 2026), where he was the top scorer in Peshawar Zalmi’s title win. Pakistan’s head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed confirmed Babar’s fitness at the pre-match press conference and expressed optimism for the upcoming match.
“Babar Azam is available for the next match. We are disappointed after the first Test, but the past is the past. We are hopeful. We will bounce back as a team,” Sarfaraz said.
Despite his PSL success, Babar’s Test performance has declined since 2023. In his last 30 innings, he has scored 735 runs at an average of 24.50, with four fifties. However, he will draw confidence from his solid record in Bangladesh, where he has scored 99 runs in three innings at an average of 49.50.
More to follow..