This physical setback arrives on the heels of a heavy 194 run thrashing at Lord’s, where the skipper recorded scores of eight and six runs, managing only 14 runs across his innings during the match and failing to touch three figures in the format since hitting 161 against New Zealand in December 2022. Having missed the opening fixture of the series due to an injury that temporarily handed the leadership armband to Salman Ali Agha, his current health concern piles extra pressure onto a side already reeling from unprecedented turmoil. Adding to an already chaotic situation within the touring contingent, Pakistan captain Babar Azam has fallen ill with a high fever as the squad prepares for the third Test against England at Edgbaston.
Selectors Announce Makeshift Squad Amid Roster Depletion
In response to a depleted roster, selectors have named a makeshift 16-man squad that includes Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal, along with five uncapped domestic prospects: Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran Randhawa, and Razaullah. Collectively, these newly added players bring a mere 10 matches of experience to the team.
Babar Azam, reappointed as Test captain, recently had a productive outing during a red ball series in the West Indies, where he scored 193 runs over two matches, including two fifties. The series concluded in a 1-1 draw, marking a mixed beginning to his tenure as captain.
Addressing concerns about the skipper, Cheema insisted there was ‘no need to panic’ and expressed confidence that the 31 year old batsman will regain his health ahead of the match scheduled for September 9, though the atmosphere surrounding the team hotel remains visibly tense. The ongoing turmoil stems from an aggressive mid tour clearout executed by the Pakistan Cricket Board following the 2-0 deficit in the three match series.
Detailing the underlying factors behind his condition, a report from Geo News stated, ‘According to highly credible sources, Pakistan captain Babar, who was dismissed for eight and six runs in the Lord’s Test, is under considerable pressure following the team’s defeat and the decision to send the head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and seven players back to the country, and has now been suffering from a high fever. Despite mounting anxiety among supporters, team media manager Naveed Akram Cheema maintained a calm stance regarding the situation. In response to these departures, white ball head coach Mike Hesson and bowling coach Ashley Noffke stepped in to take over red ball coaching duties for the upcoming fixture. The structural fallout also claimed administrative casualties as former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq submitted his resignation from the Pakistan men’s national selection committee. Misbah elected to step down from both his selection duties and his position as a batting consultant at the National Cricket Academy situated in Lahore, registering his protest against the decision to send seven players home without consulting the panel. Reports indicate that the PCB has not yet formally accepted his resignation. As the team heads toward Wednesday’s toss at Edgbaston, the recovering captain faces the immense burden of anchoring a heavily modified, inexperienced batting lineup while attempting to avoid a clean sweep.
Management dismissed head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul, while simultaneously axing seven senior players, including Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, and Salman Ali Aga, shipping them back to Pakistan before the series finale in Birmingham.
