Pakistan suffered a huge setback before the start of their Test series with England and will be without their skipper Babar Azam, who suffered an injury to his hand, in the first Test starting in Leeds.

The upcoming three-match Test series between Pakistan and hosts England will be part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship 2025-2027 cycle.

Babar Azam, who recently returned as Pakistan's Test captain, will next lead his team against England in a three-match Test series

The star player suffered the injury during the first Test against the Caribbean side in Trinidad when he was struck on the finger by a Jayden Seales delivery in Pakistan's first innings as the West Indies went on to record a 90-run victory.

Babar Azam has begun his second stint as Pakistan Test skipper with a two-match series against the West Indies. Earlier this month, the veteran batter replaced Shan Masood in the role.

Former Pakistan skipper Ramiz Raja has criticised the PCB for removing Shan Masood as the Test captain for the upcoming tours of West Indies and England.

Senior Pakistan Cricket Board selector Aaqib Javed has blamed sacked Test captain Shan Masood and the team management for the recurring leadership and game-management issues.

Shan Masood's firing seemed inevitable after the team lost 12 of 16 matches during his tenure, which began in late 2023.

Babar Azam has returned to lead Pakistan's test cricket team after Shan Masood was axed from the role on Sunday.

The top officials of the Pakistan Cricket Board are set to meet over this weekend here to decide on the future of Test captain Shan Masood and head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed.