ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s star batsman Babar Azam has been ruled out of the first Test of the two-match series against Bangladesh by a left knee injury.
According to insiders, the 31-year-old experienced a sharp pain in his left knee during the national team’s training on Thursday and after raising the issue with the management, underwent an MRI scan.
Sources further said that Babur has been rested till May 12 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka, as a precautionary measure.
According to the latest development, Babar has resumed training and is likely to play for the second Test against Bangladesh at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium from May 16 to 20.
The right-handed batsman has been in terrific form since Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 and Babar’s absence for the current tournament is a huge blow for the tour team, who have amassed 588 runs in 130 innings at an average of 588 runs in the eight-team tournament. 145.90 with the help of two hundreds and three fifties.
Following his impressive century in the qualifiers against three-time champions Islamabad United, Peshawar led Zalmi to the final.
Meanwhile, Pakistan got off to a scrappy start in the series opener against Bangladesh, with captain Najmul Hossain Sandhu’s century helping the home team finish on 301/4 on day one.
Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Abbas, Hasan Ali and Noman Ali took one wicket each for Pakistan.
Arfa Feroz Sagay
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