Pakistan have been dealt a major blow on the eve of the first Test against Bangladesh, with Babar Azam ruled out after suffering a left knee injury in Dhaka. The match begins on May 8 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, and his absence leaves a big hole in Pakistan’s batting at the start of a two-Test series.
The setback emerged during Pakistan’s training session on Thursday, when Babar left the ground before practice had finished and was sent for an MRI scan on his left knee. Later assessments by the team’s medical staff confirmed he would miss the opener, though Pakistan have stopped short of saying whether he is out of the series entirely.
That uncertainty matters. Babar’s form and place in Pakistan’s setup have already been under heavy scrutiny this year, especially after his omission from the ODI squad for the Bangladesh tour in March. At the time, that decision triggered confusion and debate in Pakistan cricket, with mixed explanations around whether he had been rested, dropped, or was carrying a fitness issue.
So this latest development lands with extra weight. For Pakistan, it’s not just about losing a senior batter; it’s about losing one of the few players in the squad with the experience to steady an innings when conditions get tricky in Dhaka. On a surface that can change quickly and ask awkward questions of visiting batters, that’s no small thing.
Pakistan had come into the Test leg of the tour looking for a reset. The two-match series, part of the World Test Championship cycle, was meant to offer a cleaner, calmer backdrop after a shaky white-ball stretch and a noisy few weeks around selection decisions. Instead, the build-up has turned messy again, and Babar’s injury has become the dominant storyline before a ball has even been bowled.
Reports on Thursday said the PCB was still monitoring the 31-year-old closely, suggesting the board is waiting to see how the knee responds before making a call on the second Test. That will be watched closely not only by Pakistan fans but by selectors too, because Babar’s fitness now feels tied to a larger question: what exactly does Pakistan’s next phase look like, and where does he sit in it?
For Bangladesh, meanwhile, the news is a clear boost. Even an out-of-rhythm Babar is the sort of player opponents plan around. Without him, Pakistan’s batting suddenly looks less settled and a bit more vulnerable, especially early in the series when first-innings runs can shape everything.
The immediate concern, though, is simpler than all the noise around selection politics or long-term planning. Pakistan are about to start a Test in Dhaka without one of their biggest names, and they still don’t know whether he’ll be fit enough to return later in the series. That’s the headline, and it’s a significant one.
