Babar Azam, the captain of Pakistan’s cricket team, exhibited signs of anger following a thrilling last-ball victory against Afghanistan in the second One Day International (ODI) match on August 24th. This hard-fought triumph also secured Pakistan’s victory in the three-game series held at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota.
In the aftermath of the match, a video clip has gone viral across social media platforms, capturing a moment where players from both competing teams exchanged greetings. However, the focal point of attention was Babar Azam, visibly irate, engaged in a verbal exchange with Afghanistan’s captain, Mohammad Nabi. This exchange was interrupted by the intervention of the match umpires.
The exact cause of Babar’s apparent anger remains unclear, yet speculations suggest it might have revolved around the controversial dismissal of all-rounder Shadab Khan during the match. Notably, during the crucial final over, with Pakistan needing 11 runs to secure victory, Fazalhaq Farooqi ran Shadab out due to backing up.
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Regarding the match itself, Afghanistan’s captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi, won the toss and elected to bat first. Afghanistan posted a formidable total of 300/5, largely propelled by a remarkable opening partnership of 227 runs between Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran. Gurbaz’s exceptional performance led to a career-best score of 151, surpassing the former Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s record of 148 runs. Zadran also contributed significantly with a gritty knock of 80 runs from 101 balls.
I have never seen Babar this angry🔥🥹.#BabarAzam #PAKvAFG #AFGvPAK #PakvsAfg pic.twitter.com/D21z33y9JD
— Shaharyar Ejaz 🏏 (@SharyOfficial) August 24, 2023
On the other hand, Pakistan’s bowlers managed to secure some wickets, with Shaheen Afridi taking two, and Naseem Shah and Usama Mir each claiming one scalp. In the second innings, Pakistan’s opening batsman, Imam-ul-Haq, played a pivotal role by scoring 91 runs from 105 deliveries. Captain Babar Azam also made a crucial contribution with a 53-run knock from 66 balls during the chase.
However, Pakistan faced a period of struggle as their middle-order batsmen were dismissed inexpensively by Afghanistan’s bowlers. Shadab Khan emerged as the game-changer, guiding Pakistan to a nail-biting one-wicket victory in the final over. Fazalhaq Farooqi, with a three-wicket haul, and Mohammad Nabi, taking two wickets, showcased commendable performances for the Afghan side.
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In conclusion, the match between Pakistan and Afghanistan showcased moments of high tension and cricketing prowess. Babar Azam’s visible annoyance and the subsequent exchange of words with Mohammad Nabi added an extra layer of intrigue, further fueled by speculation regarding the dismissal of Shadab Khan. The match highlighted remarkable performances by individual players on both sides, ultimately resulting in a thrilling victory for Pakistan.
