[Watch] Babar Azam grimaces in pain after getting hit by Khurram Shahzad's delivery during nets session
Pakistan's white-ball skipper Babar Azam endured a tormented nets session with the bat ahead of the home Test series against Bangladesh. The 29-year-old struggled against pacer Khurram Shahzad and even got hit by one of his deliveries.
Babar was struck near the groin area and grimaced in pain as Shahzad ran up to check on the batter. After pausing and doing a few stretches, Babar resumed only to be cleaned by the young pacer.
Here is a video of Babar Azam's struggles against Shahzad, including getting struck by an incoming delivery.
Shahzad debuted for Pakistan in the Test series down under against Australia in December last year. The 24-year-old impressed in his lone appearance with match figures of 5/128 despite the side's massive 360-run defeat.
Meanwhile, Babar will look to regain his best form in Test cricket in the upcoming Bangladesh series after a dismal 2023. The champion batter averaged a paltry 22.66 in five Tests last year with no 50+ scores.
Babar Azam also struggled in his lone Test this year against Australia, scoring 26 and 23 in Sydney.
"I think ICC doesn’t want Babar to perform" - Basit Ali
Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali dismissed the latest ICC ODI rankings that had Babar Azam ranked No.1, 59 points ahead of second-placed Rohit Sharma.
Despite an incredible overall ODI record, Babar has not played a single game in the 50-over format in 2024 and yet has still maintained his top spot in the rankings. While disagreeing with the ranking system, Basit Ali also sarcastically stated the rankings hindered Babar's performance.
Ali said on his YouTube channel:
"I looked at the rankings and Babar Azam is at the top followed by no. 2 Rohit Sharma at 2, no, 3 Shubman Gill and no. 4 Virat Kohli. I didn’t find it worth my while checking it any further. Why? It doesn’t feature Travis Head, Quinton de Kock, Rachin Ravindra. I think ICC doesn’t want Babar to perform and they want him to be happy with the fact that he’s ODI’s no. 1 batter."
He added:
"Who sets these rankings? On what basis Gill and Babar are there? Gill recently played three ODIs in Sri Lanka, Babar’s last ODI was in the world cup."
Babar is also third on the Test batting rankings despite his dismal showing in the format since 2023.
The 29-year-old will be in action next when Pakistan hosts Bangladesh in the first Test at Rawalpindi, starting August 21.