Home
Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam’s drought of half-centuries in Test cricket continued as he squandered another good start and got dismissed by Bangladesh’s veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan. Babar was undone by an arm ball by Shakib. He failed to pick the length and was trapped in front of the stumps. He did not even bother to review it and walked back to the dressing room on Day 2 of the second Test at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Babar has not scored a single half-century in last 15 innings in Test cricket. His last fifty-plus score came in December 2022. He scored 161 runs against New Zealand in Karachi. He returned without scoring a half-century from Sri Lanka and Australia tours. His scores in the ongoing Test series against Bangladesh are 0, 22 and 31. Babar’s average has continued to drop. Now, it has gone below 45.
Masood, Ayub hit fifties
Earlier, on Day 2, Babar came to bat early in the second session. Skipper Shan Masood who lost the toss scored 57 runs from 69 balls. Masood got out lbw by Mehidy Hasan Miraz. He shared a 107-run partnership for the second wicket with Saim Ayub after Abdullah Shafique departed for a duck.
Babar was troubled by young pacer Nahid Rana who dismissed him in the previous Test. Meanwhile, Saim Ayub got out stumped by Miraz for a 110-ball 58. Babar hit his first boundary off the 28th ball he faced. He hit Rana for a four past the mid-off fielder. Meanwhile, Saud Shakeel dragged one on to his stumps as Taskin Ahmed bagged another wicket.
After Babar, Rizwan departs too
Babar did not look comfortable at the crease and was lucky as he got a boundary via an inside edge against Hasan Mahmud. He continued to struggle before falling to Shakib in the 37-year-old's fifth over. He scored 31 runs from 77 balls.
Later, Mohammad Rizwan, the centurion of previous game could not make an impact. After playing himself in, he departed for a 63-ball 29. Rizwan lost his wicket to Rana.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
