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KEY TAKEAWAYS: - Babar Azam's fitness remains uncertain for the Headingley Test after a finger injury during a warm-up match. - The PCB has shortlisted Salman Ali Agha, Shan Masood, and Saud Shakeel as possible standby captains. - Shan Masood appears to be the frontrunner given Agha's lack of Test captaincy experience. Babar Azam remains a fitness doubt: PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi to decide Pakistan captain from a three-man shortlist Pakistan's build-up to the opening Test against England has hit an unwelcome snag, with skipper Babar Azam's fitness now a growing doubt heading into Wednesday's match at Headingley. A blow to his right hand during a warm-up fixture has left the team management scrambling to line up contingency options just days before the series begins. The injury occurred during Pakistan's practice match against a Professional County Club Select XI, when a delivery from England Under-19 talent Manny Lumsden struck Babar's bottom hand while he was batting on five. He was visibly in discomfort and didn't return to bat for the remainder of that fixture. It's worth noting this is the same hand that troubled him earlier during Pakistan's tour of the West Indies. A PCB statement issued at the time confirmed the decision to withdraw him as a precaution. "Following an assessment by the team doctor and taking precautionary measures, Babar has been advised to take rest from the remainder of the practice match," the release read, adding that he would resume training at Headingley on Monday, August 17. Babar did take part in Monday's nets session and showed no obvious signs of pain while batting, though his time in the nets was noticeably short. Bowler Mohammad Abbas, addressing the media afterwards, made clear that no final call has been made yet. "Whether he plays or not will be a decision taken on match day," Abbas said. "He did a few throwdowns and some batting practice today. But we'll have to follow medical advice for it." Who could captain Pakistan in Babar's absence? According to Mian Ahmed, the team management has sent three names to PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi for consideration as standby skipper: Salman Ali Agha, Shan Masood, and Saud Shakeel. Given that Agha currently leads Pakistan's T20I side but has no prior experience captaining in Tests, reports suggest Masood is the more likely candidate to take charge if needed. Masood also fractured his finger in the first Test in the West Indies and has been sidelined since then. However, he is back in the nets and was spotted sweating it out on Monday. "With Shan, too, we're just going to rely on the medical advice," Abbas said. "Shan practised for the whole session and looked very good." The numbers don't offer much comfort either way. Pakistan have won just once in ten previous Tests against England at Headingley, with six defeats along the way. They've also played once at the venue against Australia, winning that particular contest back in 2010. England, meanwhile, arrive full of confidence, having won their last six Tests at this ground; their most recent loss there came against West Indies all the way back in 2017. MORE: Shaheen Afridi responds to Babar Azam's all-format captaincy reports Why Pakistan can't afford to rush Babar back Babar is the key cog in the Pakistan team, both as batter and captain. Hence, rushing him back into a Test where England hold such a strong home record would be a gamble not worth taking. Finger injuries, especially recurring ones on the same hand, tend to worsen under match intensity rather than practice sessions, and reinjuring it early in the series could sideline him for far longer than a single missed Test. Pakistan's stronger move is clearly to prioritise long-term fitness over short-term optics, even if that means handing the captaincy to Masood for the opener. Given Agha's inexperience at this level, Masood remains the more sensible interim choice. It is always better to have a fully fit Babar leading from Test two onward than risk losing him for the entire series chasing a symbolic appearance at Headingley. For all the latest cricket news, opinion, and commentary and to share your voice, head to our Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter) pages