The Pakistan National Cricket Team is currently taking on the Bangladesh National Cricket Team in the two-match Test series opener at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka. However, the seasoned batter Babar Azam is not part of this ongoing Test match. After captaining Peshawar Zalmi to the Pakistan Super League 2026 (PSL 2026) title glory, Babar Azam was expected to return in whites on the Bangladesh tour, but an injury forced him to sit out. He finished the 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 smashed two centuries and three half-centuries in the league.

Babar Azam declared fit for the second Bangladesh Test

Babar Azam was hoping to continue his red-hot form in the WTC Test series in Bangladesh, and he even trained for two days with the Pakistan squad in Dhaka. Unfortunately, the stylish right-handed batter hurt his left knee during the training, and that ruled him out of the first Test. However, the good news is that Babar Azam resumed his training in Bangladesh, and he is expected to retain his fitness for the second and final Test against the Tigers, starting on May 16 at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in Sylhet. The well-known Pakistani journalists revealed that Babar has been “declared fit” and he will be “available” for selection for the second and final Test against Bangladesh in Sylhet next week.    

Babar Azam's Test career

Notably, Babar has so far represented Pakistan in 61 Test matches and amassed 4,366 runs at an average of 42.39 and a strike rate of nearly 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 decent success in the longest format. Under his captaincy, Pakistan won 10 matches, lost 6, and drew 5 games, with the former skipper finishing with a win percentage of 47.62%.   The seasoned batter is Pakistan’s second-most successful Test captain in away matches, with eight wins from 10 matches. He stepped down as the captain after the 2023 ODI World Cup in India.

Pakistan makes a strong comeback in 1st Test against Bangladesh

Speaking about the ongoing first Test in Dhaka, Pakistan made a strong comeback on the second day of the first Test after Bangladesh posted a total of 413 runs on the board in their first innings. Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto led his team brilliantly with a superb century, while Mominul Haque played a fighting knock of 91 runs in Dhaka. However, Pakistan’s experienced fast bowlers didn’t allow them to touch the 500-run mark with disciplined bowling. Mohammad Abbas was the star with an excellent five-wicket haul, while Shaheen Afridi supported him well by taking three wickets against the hosts. The touring side’s score read 349/6, trailing by 64 runs on day three before rain stopped the play in Dhaka, thanks to Azan Awais’ stunning century and Abdullah Fazal's gritty knock of 60 runs off 120 balls. Salman Ali Agha already hit a brilliant fifty, and he will resume the play at 55*.