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'Mujhe King King bolna zara kam karen': Babar Azam urges fans, media to stop calling him 'King' amidst form struggles; Watch video

Babar Azam requested media and fans to not label him as King amidst his lean patch. Babar's comments came following Pakistan's 6-wicket win over South Africa in Tri-series

Sports Tak

• Thu • 13 Feb 2025

Pakistan's batter Babar Azam during a media interaction

Highlights:

Babar Azam doesn't want media and fans to label him as 'King'

Babar Azam's struggles with the bat continued as he scored 21 runs in Pakistan's 6-wicket win over South Africa

Following Pakistan's emphatic six-wicket win against South Africa in the Tri-series, their star batter Babar Azam requested fans and media to not label him as 'King'. Despite the Pakistan's dominant show, Babar Azam's batting struggles continued as he was dismissed lbw by Wiaan Mulder for 23 runs while chasing a mammoth target of 353. However, the Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha's centurion knocks including a record-breaking 261-run partnership, ultimately rallied Pakistan past the finishing line with one over remaining.

Babar Azam requests fans, media to not label him as 'King'

Speaking to reporters after the game, Azam explained that he is currently focused on a new role within the team and wants to concentrate solely on improving his batting performance.

Right after the match Babar Azam while speaking to the reporters, made an appeal and asked everyone to stop calling him King.

"Pehli baat toh yeh hai king king bolna zara kam karein. Main koi king nahin hoon. Ab mere liye naye role hain. (I want to request to everyone not to call me king. I'm not any king and I want to focus on my new role)," Babar told reporters.

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Watch Video here:

Pakistan's crushing win over South Africa in high-scoring thriller

Talking about the match, Pakistan registered their highest successful run chase in ODIs with a six-wicket stunning victory over South Africa in a Tri-Nation Series ODI clash in Karachi on Wednesday, February 13, thanks to centuries from Salman Agha and Mohammad Rizwan. South Africa posted a colossal total of 352 for five in their stipulated 50 overs riding on brilliant fifties from captain Temba Bavuma (82), Matthew Breetzke (83), and Heinrich Klaasen (87) fueled their innings.

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Pakistan's chase got off to a shaky start, falling to 91/3. However, a rock-solid 260-run fourth-wicket partnership between Agha (134), scoring his maiden ODI century, and Rizwan (122 not out) propelled Pakistan to emphatic win with six balls remaining.

This win surpasses Pakistan's previous highest successful run chase of 349 against Australia in Lahore in 2022 and provides a significant confidence boost as they prepare to host the Champions Trophy in a week. Pakistan will now face New Zealand in the Tri-Nations final in Karachi on Friday.