A knee injury ruled Babar, 31, out of the first Test, won by Bangladesh by 104 runs to give the host a 1-0 lead.<\/p>\n
\u201cBabar Azam is available for the next match,\u201d Sarfaraz told reporters ahead of the second Test starting on Saturday.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are disappointed after the first Test but the past is the past. We are hopeful. We will bounce back as a team.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bangladesh also has injury concerns among its top-order batters.<\/p>\n
Shadman Islam has been ruled out with a chest injury sustained during the first Test, while fellow opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy\u2019s fitness is also being monitored.<\/p>\n
White-ball opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim is set to make his Test debut in Shadman\u2019s absence.<\/p>\n
Rain is predicted for the decider but Sarfaraz sought to play down the conditions.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe weather is not in our hands. If we have an opportunity to play cricket here, we will definitely play good cricket,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
However, veteran Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim said the weather could play a decisive role.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the weather is a bigger challenge than the wicket,\u201d he said, adding that there could be a little moisture on the wicket.<\/p>\n
Mushfiqur was unmoved by the prospect of facing a fully fit Babar.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf any individual and such a world-class cricketer like him is in the team, then naturally it will be a boost for them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut when we won 2-0 against Pakistan in Pakistan, he was there too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Published on May 15, 2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n