Karachi: Pakistan middle-order batsman Babar Azam has been ruled out of the remainder of the ongoing two-match Test series against England due to a fractured forearm.
The 23-year-old was forced to retire hurt after a blow to his left forearm off Ben Stokes’ delivery while the Pakistan cricketer was batting on 68 on the second day of the opening Test at Lord’s.
As a result, he was forced off the field and did not return to bat for the remainder of the day.
Reflecting on his injury, Pakistan physiotherapist Cliff Deacon said that the injury would likely to see Azam out of action for four to six weeks.
“We decided we were going to do a precautionary x-ray at the end of the day’s play. Unfortunately, the x-ray confirmed there was a fracture. The fracture’s in the forearm, it’s one of the two bones in the forearm in the distal third of the arm, just above the wrist. That’s why he couldn’t hold his bat properly,” ESPNcricinfo quoted Deacon, as saying.
With specialist batsmen Usman Salahuddin, Fakhar Zaman and Sami Aslam already present in the squad, the Pakistan management have opted to not name any replacement.
Currently, Pakistan are standing at 350-8 and maintaining a huge lead of 166 runs after bundling out England cheaply for 184 runs in their first innings in the ongoing first Test at the Lord’s.
ANI