Former England fast bowler Stuart Broad has backed Babar Azam to return to Pakistan’s playing XI for the second Test at Lord’s.
Broad said Pakistan’s batting line-up looked fragile without its star batter.
Babar missed the opening Test at Headingley because of a finger injury. He suffered the injury during Pakistan’s three-day practice match against the PCC Select XI in Beckenham.
Pakistan went on to lose the opening Test by an innings and 103 runs.
Broad Says Pakistan Need Their Best Batter
Speaking on a recent podcast with former England captain Jos Buttler, Broad said Pakistan needed Babar’s experience and quality.
“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 believes Babar can provide much-needed stability to Pakistan’s struggling batting unit.
Babar’s Appearance Creates Pre-Match Confusion
Broad also recalled a light-hearted moment before the Headingley Test.
Pakistan had already ruled Babar out because of a bruised hand. However, Babar appeared in full Test kit shortly before the toss.
His appearance briefly created confusion about whether he had recovered in time to play.
Broad initially thought Babar was heading out for the toss.
“Babar has to. 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 said.
Broad Recalls “Modern Handshake”
Broad said he was standing at the bottom of the stairs when he met Babar.
The two shared what Broad jokingly described as a “modern handshake.”
“I was at the bottom of the stairs, and we had an awkward handshake. You know, what do they call those ones instead of the normal handshake? I don’t know. It’s a minefield. That’s the modern handshake. We had a modern handshake,” he said.
Babar later cleared up the confusion.
He had not come out to take part in the toss. Instead, he had joined the captain’s photograph with the series trophy.
Broad said broadcaster Ian Ward also briefly thought Babar might play.
“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 added.
The 31-year-old remained out of the Headingley Test because of his bruised hand.
Following Pakistan’s heavy defeat, Broad believes Babar’s return could strengthen the batting line-up for the second Test at Lord’s.
