<p>Pakistan's talismanic captain Babar Azam has been ruled out of the second Test against New Zealand starting in Christchurch on Sunday as he struggles to overcome a broken thumb.</p>.<p>The announcement from team doctor Sohail Saleem came just hours after stand-in captain Mohammad Rizwan said Azam had batted well in the nets but wanted more practice time before being confirmed in the starting XI.</p>.<p>Azam has not played on the tour since breaking a thumb during a practice session soon after completing a Covid-enforced 14-day quarantine on arrival in New Zealand.</p>.<p>"We have seen an improvement in Babar Azam's injury but he is yet to fully recover," Saleem said.</p>.<p>"He is our captain and the most important batsman in our lineup so we do not want to take any risk."</p>.<p>Saleem said the team was "hopeful" he will be available for Pakistan's upcoming home series against South Africa.</p>.<p>Rizwan described Babar as Pakistan's Kane Williamson, the New Zealand captain whose first-innings century laid the foundation for their 101-run victory in the first Test.</p>.<p>"Williamson batted very solid... Babar Azam has the same role in our team. The result may have been different if Babar was playing," he said.</p>.<p>In a tense finish, New Zealand won the first Test on Wednesday with 27 balls to spare, and Williamson acknowledged Azam would have strengthened Pakistan.</p>.<p>"He's one of the best players in the world. He obviously adds a lot," Williamson said.</p>.<p>"We saw how challenging it is against this Pakistan side. You add Babar to that and it strengthens it."</p>.<p>There is a lot at stake for New Zealand in the second Test, where they need to win to have a chance of making the World Test Championship final at Lords in June.</p>.<p>New Zealand are vying with Australia, India and England to make the final two.</p>.<p>A draw or better will confirm New Zealand as number one in the world rankings, extending their unbeaten home record to 17 Tests.</p>.<p>Victory will see New Zealand win six consecutive Tests for the first time.</p>.<p>But Williamson, newly named the number one batsman in the world, said accolades and rankings were not a focus.</p>.<p>"You know these are very difficult things to control and these rankings sort of move every day," Williamson said, adding there was something special about the current Black Caps squad.</p>.<p>"Looking back, we've always been competitive at times but certainly not all the time and the team's come a long way in terms of bringing an element of consistency."</p>.<p>Occasional showers disrupted practice in Christchurch on Saturday, but the forecast is for fine weather throughout the Test.</p>
<p>Pakistan's talismanic captain Babar Azam has been ruled out of the second Test against New Zealand starting in Christchurch on Sunday as he struggles to overcome a broken thumb.</p>.<p>The announcement from team doctor Sohail Saleem came just hours after stand-in captain Mohammad Rizwan said Azam had batted well in the nets but wanted more practice time before being confirmed in the starting XI.</p>.<p>Azam has not played on the tour since breaking a thumb during a practice session soon after completing a Covid-enforced 14-day quarantine on arrival in New Zealand.</p>.<p>"We have seen an improvement in Babar Azam's injury but he is yet to fully recover," Saleem said.</p>.<p>"He is our captain and the most important batsman in our lineup so we do not want to take any risk."</p>.<p>Saleem said the team was "hopeful" he will be available for Pakistan's upcoming home series against South Africa.</p>.<p>Rizwan described Babar as Pakistan's Kane Williamson, the New Zealand captain whose first-innings century laid the foundation for their 101-run victory in the first Test.</p>.<p>"Williamson batted very solid... Babar Azam has the same role in our team. The result may have been different if Babar was playing," he said.</p>.<p>In a tense finish, New Zealand won the first Test on Wednesday with 27 balls to spare, and Williamson acknowledged Azam would have strengthened Pakistan.</p>.<p>"He's one of the best players in the world. He obviously adds a lot," Williamson said.</p>.<p>"We saw how challenging it is against this Pakistan side. You add Babar to that and it strengthens it."</p>.<p>There is a lot at stake for New Zealand in the second Test, where they need to win to have a chance of making the World Test Championship final at Lords in June.</p>.<p>New Zealand are vying with Australia, India and England to make the final two.</p>.<p>A draw or better will confirm New Zealand as number one in the world rankings, extending their unbeaten home record to 17 Tests.</p>.<p>Victory will see New Zealand win six consecutive Tests for the first time.</p>.<p>But Williamson, newly named the number one batsman in the world, said accolades and rankings were not a focus.</p>.<p>"You know these are very difficult things to control and these rankings sort of move every day," Williamson said, adding there was something special about the current Black Caps squad.</p>.<p>"Looking back, we've always been competitive at times but certainly not all the time and the team's come a long way in terms of bringing an element of consistency."</p>.<p>Occasional showers disrupted practice in Christchurch on Saturday, but the forecast is for fine weather throughout the Test.</p>