LAHORE: Young middle-order batsman Babar Azam, who has been ruled out of the second and final Test against England due to a fractured forearm, is returning to Pakistan on Tuesday.

Right-handed Babar suffered the blow when he was hit on the right forearm by a swift delivery from pacer Ben Stokes during Paki­stan’s first innings of the Lord’s Test.

No replacement is being sent to England as 15 players are available there for selection.

The 23-year-old Babar, who had scored an impressive 68, misjudged the short-pitched ball which could not lift too high and hit the batsman’s forearm forcing him to leave the ground in pain.

According to media reports, the injury is severe and has sidelined him for about six weeks.

The Pakistan team management in England announced that Babar has been ruled out of the remaining tour and it has decided to send him back.

Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2018