Star Pakistani batter Babar Azam made his T20I return to the green shirts after last playing for them in 2024, also against South Africa. He was snubbed from the shortest format of the game, as Pakistan looked to build a new, young team.
Babar Azam’s return to the T20I format was seen as a big deal, especially after Pakistan was humiliated by India in the recent Asia Cup T20 tournament in the UAE, where the Men in Blue defeated the Green shirts convincingly three times, including in the final of the tournament.
However, in the first T20I against South Africa in Rawalpindi, Babar’s bat remained quiet, as he fell for a two-ball duck to Corbin Bosch. South Africa had previously scored 194-9 after captain Donovan Ferreira lost the toss and was asked to bat first. Opening hitter Reeza Hendricks scored 60 off 40 balls, while George Linde contributed 36 off 22.
Bosch got four wickets and George Linde took three, as Pakistan was bowled out for 139, much to the chagrin of 16,000 home spectators at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
See Babar’s wickets here:
Babar’s disappointing show with the bat in Rawalpindi set social media on fire, with Pakistani fans taking potshots at the Pakistani batter.
Here are the reactions:
