Babar Azam's T20I Comeback Fails Spectacularly
Babar Azam's return to T20I cricket was highly anticipated, especially after he was left out of the Asia Cup team. Fans were excited to see him back in action, hoping he would prove his worth for the upcoming 2026 World Cup. However, his comeback quickly turned into a nightmare during the first match of a series against South Africa in Rawalpindi.
Walking in at No. 3 after Sahibzada Farhan's dismissal, Babar was greeted with cheers from a packed stadium. He needed just nine runs to break the all-time T20I runs record held by former Indian captain Rohit Sharma. Unfortunately, his quest was cut short when he faced a pacy delivery from Corbin Bosch, resulting in a shocking two-ball duck.
The crowd was left in disbelief as Babar's bat failed to connect, and the ball went straight to Reeza Hendricks at cover. After the dismissal, cameras captured Babar's devastation in the dressing room, highlighting the pressure he faced to validate his inclusion in the team. Coach Mike Hesson's faith in him was at stake, and this performance raised eyebrows.
With this duck, Babar became the player with the eighth-most ducks in T20I history, surpassing Virat Kohli's previous record of seven. Among Pakistani batters, only Umar Akmal and Saim Ayub have more ducks than him. This statistic adds to the mounting pressure on Babar as he strives to regain his form.
The match itself was a challenge for the Pakistani team, which struggled to build momentum. South Africa set a challenging target of 195 runs, with Reeza Hendricks scoring 60 runs and George Linde contributing 36. Pakistan's chase faltered early, losing two wickets within the first six overs, and they ultimately succumbed to a 55-run defeat.
This loss not only puts Pakistan behind in the series but also raises concerns about their readiness for the World Cup. Babar's performance will be critical in the coming matches as the team looks to bounce back and regain confidence before the global stage.
