The Pakistan national cricket team is currently taking on the Bangladesh national cricket team in the opening match of the two-match Test series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka. However, veteran batsman Babar Azam is not a part of this ongoing Test match.
Babar Azam was expected to return to the whites on the Bangladesh tour after captaining Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League 2026 (PSL 2026), but he had to sit out due to an injury.
He finished PSL 2026 as the leading run-scorer with 588 runs in 11 innings at an excellent average of 73.02 and a strike rate of 145.90. He scored two centuries and three half-centuries in the league.
Babar Azam declared fit for second Bangladesh Test
Babar Azam was hoping to continue his fine form in the WTC Test series in Bangladesh, and he also trained with the Pakistan team for two days in Dhaka. Unfortunately, the stylish right-handed batsman suffered a left knee injury during training and that ruled him out of the first Test.
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However, the good news is that Babar Azam has resumed his training in Bangladesh, and is expected to maintain his fitness for the second and final Test against the Tigers starting on May 16 at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in Sylhet.
Prominent Pakistani journalists revealed that Babar has been “declared fit” and will be “available” for selection for the second and final Test against Bangladesh in Sylhet next week.
good news #babarazam Are fit and will be available for the second test #bangladesh #PAKvBAN pic.twitter.com/cxasfJi1l0
– Sohail Imran (@sohailimrangeo) 10 May 2026
🚨Good news for Pakistan. 🚨
– Babar Azam has been declared fit and will be available for the second test. (Sohail Imran) pic.twitter.com/Ja3yjCjsGW
– Sherry. (@CallMeSheri1_) 10 May 2026
Babar Azam’s test career
Notably, Babar has represented Pakistan in 61 Test matches so far and has scored 4,366 runs at an average of 42.39 and a strike rate of around 55. His highest individual score in Test cricket is 196, which he achieved against Australia in 2022. He has 9 centuries and 30 fifties to his name in the format.
Babar also led the Pakistan national cricket team in 21 Test matches between 2021 and 2023 and enjoyed good success in the longest format. Under his captaincy, Pakistan won 10 matches, lost 6 and drew 5 matches, in which the former captain’s win percentage was 47.62%.
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The experienced batsman is Pakistan’s second most successful Test captain in overseas matches, with eight wins in 10 matches. He stepped down from the captaincy after the 2023 ODI World Cup in India.
Pakistan made a strong comeback in the first test against Bangladesh
Talking about the ongoing first Test in Dhaka, after Bangladesh scored a total of 413 runs on the board in its first innings, Pakistan made a strong comeback on the second day of the first Test. Bangladesh captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto led his team brilliantly with a brilliant century, while Mominul Haq played a fighting inning of 91 runs in Dhaka.
However, Pakistan’s experienced fast bowlers did not allow them to touch the 500-run mark with disciplined bowling. Mohammad Abbas was the star with an impressive five wickets, while Shaheen Afridi gave him good support by taking three wickets against the hosts.
Before play was stopped due to rain in Dhaka, the visiting team’s score on the third day was 349/6, trailing by 64 runs, thanks to a brilliant century by Azan Awais and a smashing 60 by Abdullah Fazal off 120 balls. Salman Ali Aga has already scored a brilliant half-century and will resume play on 55*.
