Watch: Pakistan white-ball skipper Babar Azam was seen having trouble while facing speedster Khurram Shahzad in the nets ahead of the Bangladesh Test series.
Pakistan are preparing for a two-Test series at home against Bangladesh, which starts on August 21. The two Tests will be played in Rawalpindi and Karachi respectively. Pakistan have named a strong squad for the Tests, including only one frontline spinner in the form of Abrar Ahmed, and having five quicks instead. Batter Saud Shakeel has been named as the new vice-captain of the Test team.
As the team prepares in Rawalpindi, a video surfaced online from one of the Pakistan net sessions, where fast bowler Khurram Shahzad was seen troubling Babar Azam.
In the viral clip, Babar is first beaten by a peach of an outswinger by Shahzad, opening him up and missing the off-stump by a whisker. The next ball then cuts back in sharply from a back of length and hits Babar on the box, forcing him to sit on his haunches and take deep breaths. Shahzad walks up to check on him as Babar recovers. That, however, is not the end of Babar's troubles as the next ball sees him get bowled attempting a drive on the up.
Babar is currently joint third on the ICC Test batting rankings. He hasn't been in the best of form, however, with his last Test 50-plus score having come in December 2022. Both Babar and Pakistan would be eagerly looking to change that.
Watch Babar get troubled by Khurram Shahzad in nets:
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