Former England fast bowler Stuart Broad has backed Pakistan captain Babar Azam to return to the playing XI for the second Test against England at Lord’s, insisting the Green Shirts looked “very fragile” with their star batter absent.
Babar missed the opening Test at Headingley after suffering a bruised hand during Pakistan’s practice match against the Professional County Club (PCC) Select XI in Beckenham.
Pakistan struggled badly in his absence, being bowled out for 171 in their first innings before collapsing to 135 in the second as England secured a commanding innings and 103-run victory.
Speaking on a podcast alongside former England captain Jos Buttler, Broad said Babar’s return would be crucial for Pakistan’s batting at Lord’s.
“I’m sure he’ll come back in at Lord’s. They have to bring him back. They look very, very fragile as a batting group, and he’s their best player,” Broad said.
Broad also recalled a humorous moment involving Babar before the start of the Headingley Test.
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Although Pakistan had confirmed a day earlier that their captain would miss the match because of his hand injury, Babar appeared before the toss wearing his full Pakistan Test attire, briefly leaving Broad wondering whether the batter had made a late recovery.
“Babar has to [return]. He nearly did, as you know. He got ruled out the day before and was declared out of the Test match. Then he walked down those stairs from the changing room, fully kitted up in his whites, with his jacket and Pakistan cap, at toss time,” Broad recalled.
The former pacer said he even exchanged a light-hearted “modern handshake” with Babar before realising that the Pakistan captain was only heading out for the official photograph with the trophy.
“I thought to myself, I didn’t think he was playing, but he’s going out for the toss. He was actually just going out for the captain’s picture with the trophy,” Broad said.
The incident even created some confusion during the live broadcast, with broadcaster Ian Ward speculating that Babar could be involved in the toss.
Broad clarified that Babar was never cleared to play and had only appeared for the captain’s photograph.
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