Overview
- Pakistan confirmed on Tuesday that Babar Azam is unavailable for the first Test at Headingley because of a right‑hand middle‑finger injury that was aggravated in the Beckenham warm‑up and earlier in the West Indies series.
- Salman Ali Agha will captain the side for the first time in Tests and Pakistan have named a tweaked XI that includes the fit return of Shan Masood and the recall of Saud Shakeel.
- England captain Joe Root won the toss on Wednesday and elected to field to exploit expected early swing and moisture at Headingley, where rain also threatens play in the opening days.
- Pakistan medical staff say the finger is not broken and that Babar’s availability for the second Test at Lord’s will be decided on medical advice and match‑day assessment.
- The result matters for World Test Championship form because both teams sit midtable and England’s leadership changes under Root and interim coach Marcus Trescothick add further pressure on the hosts to deliver at home.