"It's time to go home" - Babar Azam faces the wrath of fans as he fails to score big in 1st innings of PAK vs BAN 2024 2nd Test
Former Pakistan skipper Babar Azam's poor run in red-ball cricket continued as he failed to score big in the first innings of the second Test against Bangladesh at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The ace batter got off to a decent start but failed to make the most of it.
The right-handed batter scored 31 runs off 77 deliveries before falling to veteran left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan on Day 2 of the Test. Babar was dismissed in the 54th over, falling leg before wicket to a ball that kept a tad low.
It is worth mentioning that Babar failed to make a significant impact with the bat in the first Test as well, registering scores of 0 and 22. The hosts suffered their maiden defeat to Bangladesh in the format, losing by 10 wickets.
Babar Azam was trolled by many on social media following yet another underwhelming outing in the series. Here are some of the top reactions:
Babar was trolled heavily following his dismissal, with several fans suggesting pointing out that the 29-year-old has looked like a pale shadow of his glorious past in red-ball cricket lately.
"Dear Babar Azam play Quaid E Azam trophy 2024 season instead of playing #PakvEng test series work on your fitness and regain your form." commented a fan.
"Maybe it's time to go home Babar Azam!! Not a single fifty in last 15 innings in test cricket, extremely disappointed." remarked another.
"Babar Azam has no shame left, it’s time to drop him. He hasn’t scored a fifty in his last 15 innings. what a downfall!" chimed in yet another.
Babar Azam has failed to cross the 50-run mark in his last 15 Test innings. The batter's last 50+ score came against New Zealand in December 2022.
"I am tired of hearing that people compare them" - Danish Kaneria feels Babar Azam is nowhere close to Virat Kohli in terms of performances
Former Pakistani spinner Danish Kaneria believes that fans should stop comparing Babar Azam with Team India's star batter Virat Kohli. He opined that there is no comparison between and it's just hype created by the media.
Suggesting that Kohli is far ahead of Babar, here's what Kaneria said while speaking to Sports Tak:
"Who is comparing them? I am tired of hearing that people compare them. When you're talking about comparing, look at the runs Virat has scored. He has scored runs all around the world. He is a massive player."
"Look at his stature, when he walks onto the field, his aura itself is different and he (Babar) does not come close, forget comparing them," he added. "All that is created by the channels to sell their product. I have had a lot of questions comparing them, but I have never done it. Look at the stats. When both of them retire, do take a look at the stats."
Babar Azam is currently ranked ninth in the ICC rankings for Test batters. He dropped six places following his poor show in the Test series opener against Bangladesh.