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1st Test | Pakistan tour of England 2026 | Headingley, Leeds | August 19-23, 2026 | 11:00 AM BST
Muhammad Awais Zafar gets the call if Babar Azam fails his fitness test at Headingley. The uncapped batter slots in at number five, with everything else in Pakistan’s top order staying exactly where it already sits. Babar’s finger issue looked settled until a stray net delivery reopened it during the Beckenham warm-up, and Pakistan won’t confirm anything until the toss on August 19. Rizwan likely inherits the captaincy for a day if Babar can’t take the field, adding another wrinkle to an already unsettled build-up.
Babar’s right-hand finger issue started in the second Test against West Indies, a series Pakistan went on to level. It flared up again at Beckenham, struck by a delivery from Hampshire’s Manny Lumsden, forcing him to retire hurt on 5 off 17 balls against a county select side.
The PCB has called it precautionary, and Babar trained at Headingley on August 17, doing throw-downs and a short batting session with no visible discomfort. Mohammad Abbas told reporters the final call waits until match day, with the medical team still monitoring him. One Pakistani journalist covering the tour described the issue as minor, with no real concerns about his availability.
Shan Masood dealt with an almost identical situation earlier in the tour, fracturing a finger against West Indies before missing a Test and returning to full training at Beckenham. His recovery has been used internally as the template for how Pakistan handles Babar’s situation now, right down to the extended nets session before a final call.
The symmetry gives Pakistan’s medical staff some confidence that a similar recovery timeline applies. Babar’s status remains doubtful rather than ruled out, and the squad has planned around both outcomes rather than committing publicly before the toss.
Pakistan’s top six stays almost entirely intact regardless of what happens with Babar, the only swap coming at number five. Everywhere else, from the opening pair through to the gloves, the batting order holds its shape.
| Position | If Babar Plays | If Babar Ruled Out |
| Openers | Imam-ul-Haq, Azan Awais | Imam-ul-Haq, Azan Awais |
| No.3 | Abdullah Shafique | Abdullah Shafique |
| No.4 | Shan Masood | Shan Masood |
| No.5 | Babar Azam (c) | Muhammad Awais Zafar |
| No.6 | Saud Shakeel | Saud Shakeel |
| No.7 | Salman Ali Agha | Salman Ali Agha |
| No.8 | Mohammad Rizwan (wk) | Mohammad Rizwan (wk, c) |
Zafar earns the promotion on a genuinely strong first-class record, 2,576 runs at an average of 42.95 across 36 matches with eight centuries and a top score of 163. He has already handled pressure cricket on this tour, scoring an unbeaten 64 in a West Indies warm-up fixture.
England enter without Ben Stokes, retired, and without Jacob Bethell, ruled out of the series with a knee injury from the India ODI series. Emilio Gay’s own shoulder scare, tested in the Beckenham warm-up, cleared after scans found no damage, and he is expected to open regardless of a quiet game there.
| Position | Player | Role |
| Openers | Emilio Gay, Ben Duckett | Batters |
| No.3-4 | Joe Root (c), Harry Brook | Batters |
| No.5-6 | Ollie Pope, Jamie Smith (wk) | Batter/WK |
| Bowlers | Atkinson, Robinson, Tongue, Archer, Bashir | Pace/Spin |
Ollie Pope’s place is the one question mark, with one preview suggesting Dan Lawrence takes his spot at six instead. The more detailed reporting favors Pope holding his place, but England have not confirmed a final eleven.
Pace bowlers have taken 82 percent of wickets across the last ten Tests here, a figure that should worry Pakistan’s top order more than England’s given how seam-heavy the home attack looks. An unusually dry summer has left the pitch less likely to offer big movement early, though cloud cover on any day tends to revive it.
The forecast for the opening days sits around 17 to 19 degrees with high humidity and a real chance of rain. England have not lost a Test at Headingley since 2017, a run of five straight wins that includes a five-wicket victory over India in June 2025. Both sides arrive needing points too, Pakistan ninth and England seventh in the World Test Championship table, which is exactly why this England vs Pakistan 2026 Test Babar Azam storyline carries weight beyond one player’s finger.
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Is Babar Azam playing in the first Test against England?
His status remains doubtful heading into the match. He trained at Headingley on August 17 with no visible discomfort, but the final call waits until August 19.
Who replaces Babar Azam if he is ruled out at Headingley?
Muhammad Awais Zafar is the most likely replacement at number five. He carries a first-class average of 42.95 with eight centuries in 36 matches.
Who captains Pakistan if Babar Azam cannot take the field?
Mohammad Rizwan is expected to step in as captain. He already keeps wicket at number eight and has led the side in white-ball cricket before.
Has Muhammad Awais Zafar played Test cricket before this tour?
No, he remains uncapped heading into a potential Headingley debut. His best warm-up score on this tour is an unbeaten 64 against West Indies opposition.
Why does Headingley usually favor pace bowlers over spinners?
Cloud cover and seam movement have historically dominated results at this ground. Pace bowlers took 82 percent of all wickets across the last ten Tests played there.
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