Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam is having a tough time. Earlier, he was criticised for his captaincy in the T20 World Cup, but stepping down from leadership hasn’t eased the pressure. His batting form has taken a hit, and the slump continued in the first T20I against South Africa. During the PAK vs SA 1st T20I in Durban, Babar was dismissed for a four-ball duck, adding to his string of disappointing performances. His dismissal came at the hands of 18-year-old Kwena Maphaka, a rising star in international cricket who recently earned an IPL contract with Rajasthan Royals (RR).
Maphaka, known for his exploits in the U19 World Cup, has been making waves in senior cricket. His dismissal of Babar Azam adds another feather to his cap, showing that he is progressing well in the T20I format. Pakistan lost the first match by 11 runs.
A misjudged upper cut from Babar
Babar’s wicket came in the third ball of Maphaka’s second over. The bowler delivered a sharp, short ball outside off stump, tempting Babar to play an uppercut. Unfortunately, the execution wasn’t perfect. Instead of finding the boundary, the ball went straight to third man fielder Andile Simelane, who made no mistake.
This dismissal in his comeback game, after being rested for the Zimbabwe series, has raised further questions about Babar’s form.
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Rizwan fights back
While Babar fell early, Mohammad Rizwan led Pakistan’s chase of 184 runs with a spirited knock of 74 off 62 balls. The captain kept the scoreboard ticking with five boundaries and three sixes, displaying resilience against South Africa’s bowling attack. However, the early loss of Babar put additional pressure on the team’s batting line-up.
What’s next for Babar Azam?
Expectations were high for Babar Azam to make a mark in this series, but the rocky start has only added to his woes. As Pakistan’s cricketing fraternity looks ahead, the spotlight remains on Babar to rediscover his golden touch and contribute meaningfully to his team’s success.
Babar Azam’s last 10 T20I innings
| Runs | Opposition | Ground | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | South Africa | Durban | 10 Dec 2024 |
| 41 | Australia | Hobart | 18 Nov 2024 |
| 3 | Australia | Sydney | 16 Nov 2024 |
| 3 | Australia | Brisbane | 14 Nov 2024 |
| 32* | Ireland | Lauderhill | 16 Jun 2024 |
| 33 | Canada | New York | 11 Jun 2024 |
| 13 | India | New York | 9 Jun 2024 |
| 44 | U.S.A. | Dallas | 6 Jun 2024 |
| 36 | England | The Oval | 30 May 2024 |
| 32 | England | Birmingham | 25 May 2024 |
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