Babar Azam ruled out of England Test with hand injury

Pakistan's cricket team will be without their captain for the first Test against England, following an injury sustained during pre-match training. Babar Azam suffered damage to his right hand while preparing for the fixture scheduled to begin this week in Leeds.

Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed confirmed the injury setback on Tuesday, confirming that Salman Ali Agha would take the captaincy reins in Azam's absence. The deputy captain is expected to lead the squad through the opening Test of the series.

The injury comes at a critical juncture as Pakistan prepares to face England in what is shaping up to be a pivotal Test match encounter. The loss of their captain, even temporarily, represents a significant challenge for the touring team as they seek to establish momentum early in the series.

Pakistan will now need to reorganise its batting lineup and strategic approach without Azam's presence in the middle order, while Agha steps into the leadership vacuum. The outcome of the first Test could prove instrumental in setting the tone for the remainder of the series between the two sides.