Pakistan faced South Africa in the opening Test of their two-match series, with the hosts opting to bat first. After losing an early wicket, Imam-ul-Haq and Shan Masood steadied the innings, but once Masood departed, Pakistan suffered a collapse. Captain Babar Azam contributed just 23 runs before being dismissed, adding to concerns about his form.

Earlier in his innings, Babar had a tense moment when he was given out caught behind off Muthusamy while on one. Convinced he hadn’t edged the ball, he immediately opted for a DRS review. During this moment, former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja, commentating off-mic, was overheard saying in Hindi, “yeh out hai, drama karega” (he’s out, just putting on an act), implying Babar was wasting time. However, replays confirmed there was no edge, and the decision was overturned, proving Babar right and exposing Raja’s bias.

Babar’s eventual dismissal to Simon Harmer in the 60th over left Pakistan struggling, with the middle order failing to capitalise on a good start. His brief innings and the controversy surrounding Raja’s comments have reignited discussions about the pressure on Babar Azam to deliver consistent performances and silence critics questioning his leadership and form.

Fans rue

The now-viral video has sparked a flurry of reactions online, with many saying that Babar Azam has no respect in Pakistan, while others mock him as “***** ka King,” ridiculing his moniker of being an exceptional batter.

Babar Azam, undoubtedly one of the finest batters the game has ever witnessed, is currently navigating rough waters from a career perspective. (With inputs from Agencies)