Head Coach Pakistan Cricket Team Misbah ul Haq has expressed the hope that Captain Babar Azam will be available for the team's second Test against New Zealand in Christchurch.

In an interview, he said that in this regard a final call is likely to be taken only after a medical assessment in Mount Maunganui in three days.

He said that Babar has started gripping the bat today and practicing with a tennis ball.

Both Azam as well as opener Imam-ul-Haq were injured in nets after receiving a blow to their respective thumbs during a throw down session in Queenstown last week.