Bangladesh are currently taking on Pakistan in the first Test of the two-match series at the Sher-E-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka. This will be the first Test match that is being played anywhere arounf the world since January. This will also be an important game for Pakistan as they aim to go up the world Test Championship (WTC) table and thus aid their chances of reaching the final for the first time ever. However, they have taken the field without their star batsman Babar Azam in the playing XI.
Why Babar Azam Is Not Playing
Babar Azam is not part of the playing XI for the first Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh because he has been ruled out due to an injury to his left knee. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in a statement had officially confirmed this a day prior to the start of the match.
“Pakistan batsman Babar Azam will not be available for the first Test match against Bangladesh due to an injury in his left knee,” the PCB said.
“The team’s medical panel is currently assessing his condition. Further updates will be shared in due course,” he added.
Babar Azam arrived in Bangladesh just hours after playing the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026 final for Peshawar Zalmi on May 3 (Sunday) against Hyderabad Kingsmen. He trained for two days without apparent discomfort. However, when he woke up on the morning on Wednesday (May 7), it was with pain in his left knee. After the assessment of the medical team, he was ruled out of the first test.
Bangladesh Vs Pakistan 1st Test Playing XIs
Bangladesh: Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Najmul Hossain Shanto(c), Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das(w), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Ebadot Hossain.
Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Azan Awais, Abdullah Fazal, Shan Masood(c), Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan(w), Salman Agha, Shaheen Afridi, Noman Ali, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Abbas
Bangladesh Vs Pakistan 1st Test Squads
Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Azan Awais, Shan Masood(c), Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan(w), Salman Agha, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Khurram Shahzad, Hasan Ali, Amad Butt, Mohammad Abbas, Khurram Shahzad, Ghazi Ghori, Abdullah Fazal.
Bangladesh : Shadman Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Mominul Haque, Najmul Hossain Shanto(c), Mushfiqur Rahim(w), Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Nahid Rana, Taskin Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Amite Hasan
