Babar Azam battling high fever ahead of Edgbaston Test as Pakistan tour unravels

Pakistan captain Babar Azam is battling a high fever ahead of the decisive third Test at Edgbaston, which begins on September 9, Geo Super reported. The illness was disclosed ahead of the match as Pakistan prepare for their final game in England.

The 31-year-old missed the opening Test at Headingley with a finger injury before returning at Lord's, where he scored 8 and 6 — 14 runs across two innings — as Pakistan lost the second Test by 194 runs. His Test century drought stretches back to December 2022. The tour has been turbulent: following the second successive heavy defeat the Pakistan Cricket Board removed head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed, sent seven players home and brought in Mike Hesson to oversee the team for the final Test.

According to Pakistan team media manager Naveed Akram Cheema, Babar informed him about the fever. Cheema sought to play down concerns, saying there was no need to panic and that Babar was expected to recover soon.

Pakistan’s campaign in England has produced two heavy defeats: an innings and 103-run loss at Headingley was followed by the 194-run defeat at Lord's that sealed the series 2-0 for England. Across the first two Tests Pakistan failed to score more than 200 in any innings, underscoring their batting problems.

The timing of Babar’s illness compounds an already difficult run of results for Pakistan and increases the scrutiny on the captain’s form and the team’s leadership. The squad, coaching staff and leadership have been under intense scrutiny after what the report described as a chaotic fortnight.

Pakistan now head to Birmingham needing to avoid a 0-3 series whitewash; the Edgbaston Test begins on September 9.