Injured Babar Azam doubtful for 1st Test against New Zealand

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam is looking doubtful for the upcoming first Test against New Zealand. The right-handed batsman is presently sidelined with a fracture in the thumb that has also ruled him out of the ongoing T20I series against the Black Caps. And Babar is now in a race against time to be fit for the Test series that gets underway on December 26.

Babar, who is gearing up for his first Test series as a captain, suffered the fracture in his thumb during a throw-down session in Queenstown last Saturday. He was subsequently ruled out of the T20I series. In his absence, allrounder Shadab Khan is leading the team. According to a source, he is unlikely to recover fully ahead of the Test series-opener.

“Babar is under rehab and has done some light training but whether he will be 100 percent match fit in time for the first Test is a long shot,” a source aware of the developments in New Zealand was quoted as saying by India Today. As per the report, the source has also said that Babar has been given a 12-day rehab and rest period to be fit again but his injury was taking time to heal and he was still unable to hold a bat properly.

In case, Babar fails to recover in time for the clash, wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan is likely to lead Pakistan in the first Test. Rizwan was named the vice-captain when the squad was announced before the commencement of the tour.

Imam-ul-Haq doubtful too

Pakistan is also set to miss the services of their opener Imam-ul-Haq for the first Test. The left-handed batsman is also recovering from a thumb fracture. The source said Babar and Imam will have scans on their injuries a day before the first Test and if the fractures heal then Babar could take a risk for the match but it will depend on how fit he is at that time.

Meanwhile, Pakistan have already lost the T20I series with a match remaining. In Babar’s absence, the visitors suffered top-order collapse in both the games. They lost the first T20I by five wickets before being crushed by nine wickets in the second.