Babar Azam, one of the most popular and premier Pakistan cricket team players is not in action in the PAK vs ENG 2nd Test 2024. The 30-year-old's absence has for sure, surprised many fans, given the fact that he is an integral part of the Pakistan cricket team across formats, having led the side earlier on. In October this year, Babar Azam had announced his decision to quit captaincy of Pakistan's white-ball sides, which would enable him to focus more on his role as a batter. But why is Babar Azam not playing in the PAK vs ENG 2nd Test 2024 in Multan? Pakistan Playing XI for 2nd Test vs England Announced: Hosts Include Three Spinners, Aamir Jamal Lone Pacer; Kamran Ghulam to Make Test Debut.

Shan Masood and co stand at a risk of losing the series and need to win the PAK vs ENG 2nd Test 2024 at all costs to stay alive in the three-match affair. The hosts had suffered a crushing defeat by an innings and 47 runs in the PAK vs ENG Test series opener and will aim at bouncing back, which is nothing but a daunting task, given the contrasting form of both Pakistan and England.

Why is Babar Azam Not Playing in PAK vs ENG 2nd Test 2024?

Heading into the series, the pressure was on Babar to perform, with the batter not scoring a Test half-century in his last nine Tests, having last scored 161 in 2022 against New Zealand at Karachi. Babar scored 30 and 5, respectively in the PAK vs ENG 1st Test, which was the final nail in the coffin. On October 14, Pakistan named their starting XI sans Babar, who was dropped from the Pakistan national cricket team squad for the second and third Tests against England.

Some might argue that Babar was dropped, while the Pakistan team management has confirmed that Babar's exclusion from the remainder of the PAK vs ENG Test Series 2024 is to provide the batter a break and come back better and stronger with other important assignments coming up for the Pakistan cricket team this year.  'Babar Azam Rested, Not Dropped' Pakistan Cricket Team Assistant Coach Azhar Mahmood Clears the Air Around Omission of 'No 1 Player' From Squad for Remaining PAK vs ENG Tests 2024 (Watch Video). 

Apart from Babar, pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah were also rested from the XI, who participated in the PAK vs ENG 1st Test 2024. England meanwhile, has seen Ben Stokes return to the playing XI after recovering from a hamstring injury.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 15, 2024 09:59 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).