Pakistan’s star batter and former captain Babar Azam has equaled a rather unwanted record previously held by legendary all-rounder Shahid Afridi — the most ducks by a Pakistani player in T20 Internationals.
In the first T20 match of the series against South Africa, Babar was dismissed for a duck after facing just two deliveries. The dismissal came in the final over of the powerplay when Corbin Bosch trapped him early, leaving Pakistan under pressure at the top of the innings.
This marked the eighth time Babar Azam has been dismissed without scoring in a T20 International, drawing him level with Afridi’s tally of eight ducks. Both players now share the third position among Pakistani cricketers with the most T20I ducks. Others on the list include Umar Akmal, Kamran Akmal, and Saim Ayub, who have also faced similar dismissals multiple times.
The match itself turned out to be a disappointing outing for Pakistan. Chasing South Africa’s target of 195 runs, the Men in Green crumbled for just 139 runs in 18.1 overs, falling short by 55 runs. South African opener Reeza Hendricks played a key role, scoring a solid 60 off 40 balls, while Corbin Bosch impressed with the ball, claiming four wickets to dismantle Pakistan’s batting lineup.
For Pakistan, all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz was the standout performer with the ball, taking three wickets for 26 runs. With this defeat, Pakistan will need a quick turnaround in the upcoming matches to keep the series alive and regain momentum.
Babar’s form, especially as a senior batter, remains a concern for the management as Pakistan prepares for the next T20 World Cup cycle.
