Pakistan will be strengthened by the return of star batsman Babar Azam for the second and final cricket Test against Bangladesh in Sylhet, head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed said on Friday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
A knee injury ruled Babar, 31, out of the first Test, won by Bangladesh by 104 runs to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Babar Azam is available for the next match," Sarfaraz told reporters ahead of the second Test starting on Saturday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"We are disappointed after the first Test but the past is the past. We are hopeful. We will bounce back as a team."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Bangladesh also have injury concerns among their top-order batsmen.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Shadman Islam has been ruled out with a chest injury sustained during the first Test, while fellow opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy's fitness is also being monitored.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
White-ball opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim is set to make his Test debut in Shadman's absence.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Rain is predicted for the decider but Sarfaraz sought to play down the conditions.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"The weather is not in our hands. If we have an opportunity to play cricket here, we will definitely play good cricket," he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
However, veteran Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim said the weather could play a decisive role.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I think the weather is a bigger challenge than the wicket," he said, adding that there could be a little moisture on the wicket.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Mushfiqur was unmoved by the prospect of facing a fully fit Babar.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"If any individual and such a world-class cricketer like him is in the team, then naturally it will be a boost for them," he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"But when we won 2-0 against Pakistan in Pakistan, he was there too."
\r\n <\/p>\r\n",
"image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Babar-Azam-Test-vs-Bangladesh.jpg",
"alt_img": "BAN Vs PAK: Babar Azam To Boost Pakistan In Second Bangladesh Test",
"alt_title": "BAN Vs PAK: Babar Azam To Boost Pakistan In Second Bangladesh Test",
"image1": null,
"video": null,
"seo_title": "BAN Vs PAK: Babar Azam To Boost Pakistan In Second Bangladesh Test On Cricketnmore",
"seo_desc": "Pakistan will be strengthened by the return of star batsman Babar Azam for the second and final cricket Test against, BAN Vs PAK: Babar Azam To Boost Pakistan In Second Bangladesh Test.",
"seo_keywords": "Babar Azam, Pakistan Cricket Team, Bangladesh Vs Pakistan",
"tag": null,
"tagging": "Babar Azam,Pakistan Cricket Team,Bangladesh Vs Pakistan,",
"status": "1",
"img_rpt": "0",
"google": "1",
"standout": "0",
"edapps": "0",
"pulse": "0",
"no_index": "0",
"feed": "0",
"fixture": null,
"slug": "ban-vs-pak-babar-azam-to-boost-pakistan-in-second-bangladesh-test",
"user_id": "0",
"read_count": "1",
"ians_date": null,
"ians_time": null,
"server_time": null,
"trash": "0",
"view_count": "180",
"page_break": "0",
"instant_articles": "1",
"auto_link": "1",
"created": "2026-05-15 19:18:39",
"updated": "2026-05-15 19:18:39",
"img_from": "Image Source: AFP",
"img_source": null,
"schedule_publish": null,
"news_keywords": "Babar Azam, Pakistan Cricket Team, Bangladesh Vs Pakistan",
"livescore_text": null,
"livescore_link": null,
"btn_text": null,
"resend_feed": "0",
"google_feed": "0",
"read_more": "1",
"posted_by": "13",
"jio_date": "2026-05-15 19:18:39",
"scheduled": "0",
"news_now": "1",
"breaking_news": "1",
"google_date": null,
"featured": "0",
"pred_match_id": "Select",
"article_content_type": "Latest Cricket News",
"england_cricket": "0",
"link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/cricket-news\/ban-vs-pak-babar-azam-to-boost-pakistan-in-second-bangladesh-test-195943"
}