Babar Azam, one of Pakistan’s most celebrated cricketers, has been under increasing scrutiny recently. His performances with the bat and his leadership in limited-overs cricket have sparked debate among fans and experts alike.
Yesterday, the pressure mounted even further as Babar was dismissed for a duck on home soil for the first time in his Test career. The moment came on the opening day of the first Test against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi.
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Pakistan’s top order was struggling at 14/2 when Babar walked out to bat at No.4. All eyes were on the star batter, who many hoped would steady the ship. However, it was not to be.
Facing just his second delivery, Babar was caught off guard by a length ball from Shoriful Islam that slipped down the leg side, ending his innings with a two-ball duck.
A Dream Wicket for Shoriful Islam
Interestingly, Shoriful Islam had his sights set on Babar even before the series began. The Bangladesh pacer, speaking ahead of the match, revealed that dismissing Babar was a personal goal.
“Babar is a tough challenge for Bangladesh. So, we have to take his wicket quickly. He is also my dream wicket. I will be very happy if I can get his wicket. I played with him last year in the CPL. He is a very good person,” Shoriful said.
And Shoriful’s dream came true in dramatic fashion. For Babar, this dismissal was a rare occurrence on home soil. Before this match, he had played 24 innings in 14 home Tests without ever being dismissed for a duck.
The last time Babar recorded a duck in a Test match was three years ago. Overall, he has been out for a duck eight times in Test cricket, with seven of those dismissals coming in away games.
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What’s Next for Babar Azam?
Babar Azam’s journey in this Test series is far from over. Fans will be eager to see how he bounces back in the next innings. While one bad day at the office doesn’t define a player of his caliber, the expectations are always sky-high for a cricketer of Babar’s stature.
For now, the focus will shift to Pakistan’s ongoing battle against Bangladesh, but the spotlight on Babar will only intensify. Whether he can silence his critics and lead Pakistan to victory remains to be seen.
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