Pakistan's Babar Azam ruled out of first Test against England due to injury

Pakistan's captain Babar Azam has been ruled out of the first Test against England, which is set to start at Headingley. Azam is unable to participate due to a hand injury that occurred during a warm-up match against a County Select XI last week.

According to reports, Azam sustained the injury after being struck on his right hand by England Under-19 paceman Manny Lumsden. He quickly retired hurt as a precautionary measure, and subsequent assessments indicated he would not recover in time for the match.

With Azam's absence confirmed, Salman Ali Agha has been appointed as the stand-in captain for the Pakistani side. Agha's experience is expected to guide the team through this opening match against a strong England side.

This will be the first Test that Pakistan plays against England in the current series, with both teams looking to establish an early advantage. Azam, a key player for Pakistan, had been crucial for the team's performance prior to his injury.

The decision to rule Azam out comes as a significant setback for Pakistan. The team will need to adjust their strategy with Agha at the helm, considering Azam's leadership and batting capabilities.

The first Test match is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, and both teams are finalizing their line-ups ahead of the match, which is expected to start at 11am BST.