Babar Azam ruled out of Headingley Test; Salman Ali Agha to captain Pakistan
Pakistan captain Babar Azam has been ruled out of the first Test against England at Headingley, the Pakistan camp confirmed on 18 August 2026 ahead of a three-Test series that begins on Wednesday. The decision leaves Pakistan without their captain and one of their most experienced batters for the series opener.
Babar is sidelined with a right-hand injury after being struck during Pakistan’s warm-up match against a Professional County Club Select XI at Beckenham, Pakistan head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed said, and Salman Ali Agha will assume the captaincy for the first Test. "Pakistan captain Babar Azam is unavailable for the first Test match. Salman Agha will be the captain for the first Test," Sarfaraz said.
The team medical staff have ruled out a fracture and are continuing to monitor the middle finger of Babar’s right hand, the coaching group reported. "The medical team is assessing Babar. He has quite a bit of pain in the finger. There are still a few days to go before the second Test. Hopefully, he will recover by then," Sarfaraz said, and the squad has described the absence as limited to the Headingley match at present.
Salman Ali Agha takes over with prior leadership experience at international level, having captained Pakistan in T20Is, and will make his first appearance as Test captain in the series opener. The 32-year-old all-rounder made his Test debut in 2022, is regarded by the management as an established middle-order batter and off-spinner, and began his red-ball first-class career in 2013.
Shan Masood has returned to fitness after suffering a left index finger injury during the first Test against the West Indies in Trinidad, where he was struck by Jayden Seales while scoring a century. That injury forced him to miss Pakistan’s second Test against the West Indies and he was absent from the warm-up game in Beckenham prior to this tour.
Babar’s absence creates a significant batting gap for Pakistan in English conditions; he had recently reclaimed a place in the ICC Test top 10 following his performances against the West Indies. In that series he scored 88 in the first Test and an unbeaten 24 during the successful chase in the second, figures the team will now miss at Headingley.
Salman Agha will lead Pakistan in the opening Test while medical staff continue to assess Babar’s recovery ahead of the second Test, with the squad hoping he will be available for that match. The Pakistan management has described the situation as under evaluation with the next decision to follow the ongoing medical assessments.
