--- title: "Babar Azam returns to training and confirms 90% fitness for second Test against England" description: "Most outlets highlighted Babar Azam’s return to training and his confirmation that he is 90% fit for the second Test against England at Lord’s. Several also noted his participation in fielding and batting drills during Pakistan’s first training session at the venue. Geo News included a direct quote from Azam stating, “Fit for tomorrow's match,” while others focused on the team’s preparations and the timing of his return following his absence from the first Test." url: https://harzaviya.com/stories/4394-babar-azam-likely-to-return-as-pakistan-consider-changes site: HarZaviya language: en --- # Babar Azam returns to training and confirms 90% fitness for second Test against England sports · latest filing 27 Aug 2026, 12:20 PM PKT · 23–27 Aug 2026 · 20 articles from 10 outlets over 4 developments **HarZaviya summary** — how 10 outlets covered this, generated automatically from their headlines and excerpts: > Most outlets led with the likelihood of Babar Azam’s return for the second Test following his absence due to injury. Several also noted the possibility of Mohammad Rizwan being rested and a potential shift in the team’s spin combination. While the focus was largely uniform, a few mentions of the heavy defeat at Headingley appeared, with one outlet framing it as the reason for the team rethink. ## How it developed Newest development first. Each carries its own coverage and, where we have one, our summary of it. ### 27 Aug 2026 — Babar Azam says he is 90% fit for crucial Lord's Test (1 outlet) - **Business Recorder** — [Babar Azam says he is 90% fit for crucial Lord's Test](https://www.brecorder.com/news/40436656/babar-azam-says-he-is-90-fit-for-crucial-lords-test) · 27 Aug 2026, 12:20 PM PKT > Pakistan captain Babar Azam has declared himself ready to return from injury and lead the side during the second Test against England at Lord’s, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Thursday. Babar has been battling a hand injury and was forced to watch on from the sidelines as Pakistan suffered a mammoth innings and 103-run loss to England in the opening Test of the ICC World Test C... ### 26 Aug 2026 — Babar Azam returns to training and confirms 90% fitness for second Test against England (8 outlets) > Most outlets highlighted Babar Azam’s return to training and his confirmation that he is 90% fit for the second Test against England at Lord’s. Several also noted his participation in fielding and batting drills during Pakistan’s first training session at the venue. Geo News included a direct quote from Azam stating, “Fit for tomorrow's match,” while others focused on the team’s preparations and the timing of his return following his absence from the first Test. - **Dunya News** — [Pakistan captain Babar Azam returns against England '90pc fit'](https://dunyanews.tv/en/Sports/969849-pakistan-captain-babar-azam-returns-against-england-90pc-fit) · 26 Aug 2026, 10:38 PM PKT > Azam missed last week’s series opener at Headingley because of a finger injury - **Minute Mirror** — [Babar Azam declares himself 90 percent fit for sec...](https://minutemirror.com.pk/babar-azam-declares-himself-90-percent-fit-for-second-test-against-england-619103/) · 26 Aug 2026, 10:35 PM PKT · 82% identical wording to the newest filing > Pakistan captain Babar Azam has declared himself “90 per cent fit” as he prepares to return to the side for the second Test against England - **Pakistan Observer** — [Babar Azam Gives Fitness Update Ahead of Lord’s Test](https://pakobserver.net/babar-azam-gives-fitness-update-ahead-of-lords-test/) · 26 Aug 2026, 10:32 PM PKT · 71% identical wording to the newest filing > Babar Azam will lead Pakistan in the second Test against England after recovering from hand injury. The second Test of… - **Business Recorder** — ['90% fit': Babar Azam confirms availability for Lord's Test](https://www.brecorder.com/news/40436620/90-fit-babar-azam-confirms-availability-for-lords-test) · 26 Aug 2026, 7:40 PM PKT · 78% identical wording to the newest filing > Pakistan captain Babar Azam says he is nearing full fitness after a hand injury as the team prepares for the second Test against England at Lord’s. Speaking at a pre-match press conference on Wednesday, Babar said he had recovered around 90% and was continuing to train ahead of the match, which begins on August 27. “I had a couple of training sessions yesterday and, after this, I’m going for an... - **Dawn** — [Pakistan captain Babar Azam returns against England '90pc fit'](https://www.dawn.com/news/2025435/pakistan-captain-babar-azam-returns-against-england-90pc-fit) · 26 Aug 2026, 7:26 PM PKT · 92% identical wording to the newest filing > Pakistan captain Babar Azam on Wednesday said he is “90 per cent fit” as he returns to lead his country in the second Test against England at Lord’s. Azam missed last week’s series opener at Headingley because of a finger injury, with the tourists thrashed by an innings and 103 runs in his absence as England went 1-0 up in a three-match campaign. The 31-year-old Azam was hit on the glove while ... - **The Nation** — [Babar Azam returns to full training ahead of Lord’s Test](https://www.nation.com.pk/26-Aug-2026/babar-azam-returns-full-training-ahead-lord-s-test) · 26 Aug 2026, 6:12 PM PKT · 67% identical wording to the newest filing > Pakistan have stepped up preparations for the second Test against England with their first training session at Lord’s following their arrival from Leeds. - **Geo News** — ['Fit for tomorrow's match,' says Babar ahead of second England Test](https://www.geo.tv/latest/679290-fit-for-tomorrows-match-says-babar-ahead-of-second-england-test) · 26 Aug 2026, 6:02 PM PKT · 76% identical wording to the newest filing > Pakistan captain Babar Azam plays shot during second Test against West Indies in Trinidad on August 3, 2026. — AFP Pakistan captain Babar Azam on Wednesday provided an update on his fitness, saying that he has reached 90% recovery from a hand injury ahead of the second Test... - **Arab News Pakistan** — [Babar Azam says he’s ‘90 percent’ fit and set to return for Pakistan in 2nd test against England](https://www.arabnews.pk/node/2655934/pakistan) · 26 Aug 2026, 8:08 AM PKT · 85% identical wording to the newest filing > LONDON: Pakistan captain Babar Azam is set to make his return to the team for the second test against England at Lord’s starting Thursday, despite not fully recovering from a finger injury. Babar missed the first test, which England won by an innings and 103 runs at Headingley last week, because of the issue but has taken part in practice sessions at the home of cricket. “Yes, 90 percent I’m fi... ### 25 Aug 2026 — Pakistan hopeful of Babar return at Lord’s for second England Test (3 outlets) > Most outlets led with the news that Pakistan captain Babar Azam may return for the second Test against England at Lord’s following a positive training session. Arab News Pakistan attributed the update to bowling coach Umar Gul, while Geo News included a brief reference to a training session photo from Colombo. Both focused on the potential return but provided minimal additional context or detail. - **24 News HD** — [Babar Azam set to return for second Test against England at Lord’s](https://www.24newshd.tv/25-Aug-2026/babar-azam-set-return-second-test-england-lord-s) · 25 Aug 2026, 10:48 PM PKT > Pakistan captain Babar Azam is set to return to the playing XI for the second Test against England at Lord’s after completing a positive training session, bowling coach Umar Gul said. - **Geo News** — [Pakistan hopeful of Babar return at Lord's for second England test](https://www.geo.tv/latest/679141-pakistan-hopeful-of-babar-return-at-lords-for-second-england-test) · 25 Aug 2026, 7:48 PM PKT · 88% identical wording to the newest filing > Pakistan's Babar Azam bats during their training session at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on February 6, 2026. — X/TheRealPCB Pakistan captain Babar Azam could return for the second test against England at Lord's after coming through a positive training session as he... - **Arab News Pakistan** — [Pakistan hopeful of Babar return at Lord’s for second England Test](https://www.arabnews.pk/node/2655824/pakistan) · 25 Aug 2026, 8:08 AM PKT · 86% identical wording to the newest filing > Pakistan captain ‌Babar Azam could return for the second test against England at Lord’s ​after coming through a positive training session as he continues his recovery from a finger injury, bowling coach Umar Gul said on Tuesday. Babar, who injured his finger during the West ‌Indies series ‌before aggravating the ​problem ‌after ⁠being ​struck during ⁠Pakistan’s warm-up match at Beckenham, misse... ### 23 Aug 2026 — Pakistan considers team changes for second Test against England at Lord’s (6 outlets) > Most outlets led with the likelihood of Babar Azam’s return for the second Test, while also noting that Mohammad Rizwan may be rested and that the team is considering a two-spinner combination. The Nation and Pakistan Observer framed the changes as a response to a "rout" and "heavy defeat," respectively, while other outlets like Geo News and Business Recorder provided more neutral phrasing. ARY News and Dunya News focused more on the general possibility of changes without emphasizing the result of the first Test. - **The Nation** — [Babar’s return looms as Pakistan rethink XI after Headingley rout](https://www.nation.com.pk/24-Aug-2026/babar-s-return-looms-pakistan-rethink-xi-headingley-rout) · 24 Aug 2026, 6:05 AM PKT > LONDON - Pakistan are considering several changes to their playing XI for the second Test against England at Lord’s, with Babar Azam expected to return after missing the series opener through injury. - **ARY News (English)** — [Babar Azam slated to return as Pakistan mulls changes for the second Test at Lord’s](https://arynews.tv/babar-azam-slated-to-return-as-pakistan-mulls-changes-for-the-second-test-at-lords) · 24 Aug 2026, 12:22 AM PKT · 86% identical wording to the newest filing - **Pakistan Observer** — [Babar’s Return, Rizwan’s Rest in Focus Ahead of Lord’s Test](https://pakobserver.net/babars-return-rizwans-rest-in-focus-ahead-of-lords-test/) · 23 Aug 2026, 3:11 PM PKT · 82% identical wording to the newest filing > Pakistan are weighing changes to their playing XI for the second Test against England at Lord’s after a heavy defeat… - **Business Recorder** — [Babar Azam likely to return as Pakistan consider changes for Lord's Test](https://www.brecorder.com/news/40436178/babar-azam-likely-to-return-as-pakistan-consider-changes-for-lords-test) · 23 Aug 2026, 12:00 PM PKT · 88% identical wording to the newest filing > Pakistan are considering changes to their playing XI for the second Test against England at Lord’s, with star batter Babar Azam likely to return after missing the series opener due to injury, local media reported on Sunday. The second Test of the three-match series is scheduled to begin at Lord’s in London on August 27. According to local media reports, the team management is hopeful that Babar... - **Geo News** — [Babar Azam likely to return as Pakistan 'weigh changes' for second England Test](https://www.geo.tv/latest/678831-pakistan-weigh-changes-to-playing-xi-for-second-test-at-lords-against-england) · 23 Aug 2026, 11:05 AM PKT · 78% identical wording to the newest filing > Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha walks off the field after stumps during the first Test against England at Headingley in Leeds on August 20, 2026. — ReutersMohammad Rizwan could be rested for second Test: sources.Pakistan 'consider' two spinners, Ubaid Shah for Lord’s.Agha... - **Dunya News** — [Pakistan team likely to see changes for Lord's Test against England](https://dunyanews.tv/en/Sports/969309-pakistan-team-likely-to-see-changes-for-lords-test-against-england) · 23 Aug 2026, 10:30 AM PKT · 80% identical wording to the newest filing > Pakistan are considering changes for the Lord’s Test after a heavy Leeds defeat, with Babar Azam’s return, Mohammad Rizwan’s rest and a two-spinner combination under review ## Part of a bigger story Other stories whose coverage resembles this one, nearest first. "% related" compares whole stories, not single articles — see [what the percentages mean](https://harzaviya.com/methodology). - [Salman Agha to lead Pakistan in first Test against England as Babar Azam is ruled out](https://harzaviya.com/stories/3266-pakistan-captain-babar-in-injury-scare-ahead-of-england) · 19 Aug 2026 · 12 outlets · 6 developments · 88% related - [Pakistan elect to bowl in Lord’s Test against England after winning toss](https://harzaviya.com/stories/4885-babar-is-fit-as-pakistan-take-on-england-in-2nd-test-at-lord) · 27 Aug 2026 · 12 outlets · 2 developments · 84% related - [Babar Azam develops fever after Pakistan’s Lord’s Test loss](https://harzaviya.com/stories/5927-babar-azam-down-with-fever-after-pakistan-s-heavy-lord-s) · 2 Sep 2026 · 5 outlets · 79% related - [England clinch 2-0 Test series against Pakistan with 194-run win at Lord’s](https://harzaviya.com/stories/4953-abbas-takes-three-wickets-as-pakistan-on-top-against-england) · 31 Aug 2026 · 18 outlets · 5 developments · 75% related - [Babar Azam returns to ICC Test batting top 10 after nearly two years](https://harzaviya.com/stories/2922-babar-azam-returns-to-top-10-in-latest-icc-test-rankings) · 13 Aug 2026 · 9 outlets · 2 developments · 74% related 20 articles from 10 outlets, 23–27 Aug 2026. 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