Injured Babar Azam doubtful for 1st Test against New Zealand
Babar Azam is already missing the ongoing T20I series.
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.
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