Babar Azam scored a valiant half-century but could not lead Pakistan to victory over New Zealand in the second ODI of the three-match series. Chasing 262, Babar scored 79 runs off 114 balls as Pakistan was bowled out for 182, losing by 79 runs.
Fans criticised Babar’s slow knock on social media, but former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar took an indirect savage dig at the Pakistani captain for his yawn-inducing innings. Akhtar responded with a two-word tweet that quickly went viral, as fans sided with the 47-year-old and criticised Babar Azam for playing a Test-like knock in an ODI. “*yawwnnn* Zzzzz,” wrote Akhtar.
Here is Shoaib Akhtar’s tweet
*yawwnnn* Zzzzz
— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) January 11, 2023
Babar Azam’s strike rate has been a hot topic across all formats. His inability to score quick runs has cost Pakistan in recent times, and former cricketers in his own country are not impressed. Pakistan’s new interim chief selector, Shahid Afridi, recently stated that he will not select players who do not have a strike rate of more than 135 in the shortest format of the game.
Babar, who leads Pakistan in Twenty20 Internationals, has a strike rate of 127.55 and many expected him to be dropped. The Pakistani captain will have to work hard to rethink his game and find ways to score quick runs, or else he will face such criticism every time he takes the field.
Spinner Mohammad Nawaz took four wickets to help Pakistan restrict New Zealand to 261 all out in the second One-Day International in Karachi, after opener Devon Conway hit a century. Nawaz finished with 4-38 as New Zealand collapsed from 183-1 in 29.5 overs to 206-6 in 40 deliveries, losing five wickets for 23 runs.
In the chase, captain Babar Azam scored 79 runs in 114 deliveries, but he received little help from his teammates. The Black Caps, on the other hand, were at the top of their game at Karachi’s National Stadium. Tim Southee and Ish Sodhi each took two wickets as the visitors won by 79 runs. Lockie Ferguson, Mitchell Santner, Michael Bracewell, and Glen Phillips each took a wicket as Pakistan were bowled out for 182-10.
