Babar Azam's England Opener in Doubt as Azhar Mahmood Reveals Star Is 'Really Down'

Fitness scare clouds a big series

Pakistan's build-up to their Test opener against England has been thrown into uncertainty, with captain Babar Azam now a doubt for the match. Reports in the Times of India and Gulf News both say his availability 'hangs in the balance' and that the camp will have to 'follow medical advice' before making a final call. No confirmed date or precise nature of the issue has been laid out publicly, but the message from within the Pakistan set-up is clear: this is not a formality, and Babar could genuinely miss the start of a marquee series.

Azhar Mahmood's warning

Adding another layer to the story, former Pakistan international Azhar Mahmood has made an explosive claim about Babar Azam's state of mind, describing the star batter as 'really down'. Coming from a respected voice inside Pakistan cricket, that comment lands heavily. It suggests the issue around Babar may not be purely physical, and raises questions about the pressure he is under as captain, talisman and the man Pakistan fans expect to carry the batting line-up in a high-stakes home summer.

The form is still there

What makes the timing so striking is that Babar has just delivered for Pakistan on the field. Alongside Abdullah Shafique, he helped put Pakistan on top in the second Test against West Indies, a reminder that whatever is going on behind the scenes, his class with the bat has not disappeared. That contrast, a player performing at the crease while reportedly struggling away from it, is exactly the kind of story that keeps fans and pundits talking.

Why it matters

England against Pakistan Tests are always box office, and losing Babar Azam, arguably Pakistan's biggest individual draw, would be a serious blow to the contest. For Pakistan, the stakes are twofold: results on the field against a dangerous England side, and managing a captain whose wellbeing has now been publicly questioned by one of his own former teammates. For England, any hint of instability in the Pakistan camp changes the calculus of how they approach the opener.

What happens next

Expect Pakistan's team management to give an update closer to the match once medical assessments are complete. Given the Azhar Mahmood comments, there will also be scrutiny on how the Pakistan Cricket Board handles Babar's workload and support around him, not just his fitness. Until then, his participation in the opening Test remains genuinely uncertain, and that uncertainty alone is enough to dominate the build-up to what should be one of the series of the year.