Pakistan begin Preparations for Second Test Against Bangladesh as Babar Azam Declared Fit to Play

Head coach of the Pakistan national cricket team, Sarfaraz Ahmed, has confirmed that Babar Azam is fully fit and available for selection in the second Test against Bangladesh.

Speaking at a press conference in Sylhet, Sarfaraz said the final playing XI would be revealed after the toss. He admitted the team was disappointed with the result of the first Test but stressed that the squad is now focused on moving forward and delivering a better performance in the upcoming match.

The head coach praised Babar Azam’s recent form, saying he performed brilliantly in the PSL and looked mentally fresh as well. He added that criticism is a normal part of cricket, especially when the team fails to perform well, but insisted that the players are not affected by social media criticism.

Sarfaraz Ahmed expressed confidence that both the captain and players would bounce back strongly in the second Test. He also backed Mohammad Rizwan, calling him an excellent wicketkeeper who may occasionally face pressure, but is capable of delivering strong performances with both bat and gloves.

He further revealed that the playing XI has largely been finalized, although weather conditions and rain could force late changes. Sarfaraz also praised young players Abdullah Fazal and Azan Awais for their performances and hoped they would continue their good form.

Commenting on the previous Test, he said the toss decision was correct and added that the team maintaining better discipline in Test cricket would ultimately come out on top. He concluded by saying the team had come to Bangladesh to play good cricket and remained optimistic about improving in the second Test.