Babar Azam equals Imran Khan's unwanted feat ahead of India Asia Cup tie after first dismissal for duck in two years
If India's tour of the West Indies served as preparation for the Asia Cup, which will be followed by the ODI World Cup in October, Pakistan's tour of Afghanistan serves the same purpose, as the Babar Azam-led side began their preparations for the continental event on Tuesday with the first of three ODIs at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium in Hambantota.
Pakistan were dealt a reality check ahead of the big event, when the team crashed for 201 runs, with captain Babar committing a three-ball duck.
Pakistan's captain, Babar Azam, goes back to the pavilion following his dismissal in the first one-day international (ODI) cricket match between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Pakistan's captain, Babar Azam, goes back to the pavilion following his dismissal in the first one-day international (ODI) cricket match between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Pakistan had a disastrous start after electing to bat first, losing two wickets in the opening two overs. In the first over, Fakhar Zaman edged a shorter delivery from Fazalhaq Farooqi to Mohammad Nabi at slip, while Mujeeb Ur Rahman outfoxed Babar in the next for a duck.
It was Babar's fourth duck dismissal in ODI cricket, and his second as captain, putting him on par with 1992 World Cup winner Imran Khan, Javed Miandad, Azhar Ali, and Younis Khan. Wasim Akram leads the list of ODI captains with eight such dismissals, followed by Inzamam-ul-Haq and Moin Khan with four apiece, and Misbah-ul-Haq with three.
This was also his first duck dismissal in over two years, with the last being in July 2021 against England in Cardiff.
It was his eighth dismissal for a duck as a captain, putting him second on the list behind Inzamam and Misbah. With ten such dismissals, Akram leads the pack. Overall, it was his 16th duck dismissal of his career.
Babar came into the match fresh off a great performance in the Lanka Premier League, where he made 261 runs in eight innings with a century and a fifty. However, Babar was beaten by a fuller ball from Mujeeb that swung back in sharply on the third delivery he faced on Tuesday evening. The ball struck plumb in front of the middle, as confirmed by the TV umpire after Babar requested a review.
The dismissal comes as a significant blow to Babar's preparations, as Pakistan is set to meet archrival India next week in Sri Lanka as part of the Asia Cup after taking on qualifier Nepal on August 30.
Imam-ul-Haq's 94-ball 61, laced with two boundaries, was Pakistan's lone positive in the innings, as the team managed only 201 runs in 47.1 overs.