Former Pakistan cricket captain Babar Azam has become the subject of intense social media trolling following a linguistic slip during a recent video appearance. The incident occurred while Azam was guest-starring on Kevin Pietersen’s YouTube channel, The Switch, for a segment focused on the mechanics of facing the short ball.

The "Momos of the Time" Incident

During a technical discussion, Pietersen questioned Azam about his preferred batting guard when preparing for a bouncer, asking if he aligns with the middle, leg, or off stump. Azam intended to reply that he adjusts his stance "most of the time" depending on the bowler. However, his pronunciation led viewers to interpret the phrase as "momos of the time." The snippet quickly went viral, with netizens labelling the moment an "English masterclass" and flooding platforms with food-related memes.

Linguistic History and Fan Reactions

This latest gaffe has led social media users to recall Azam’s previous viral slip, where he famously said "boosebumps" instead of "goosebumps." While many have used the #BobsyMasterclass tag to poke fun at the batter, others have come to his defence. Supporters argue that such cricket humour often overlooks the fact that English is Azam's second language and should not overshadow his status as the all-time leading run-scorer in T20Is.

On-Field Performance and World Cup Outlook

Despite the online banter, Azam has remained active on the field, recently concluding his debut stint in the Big Bash League (BBL) with the Sydney Sixers. He featured in eight matches, accumulating 154 runs with two half-centuries, though his strike rate of 104.05 has remained a point of debate among Pak Cricket critics.