Former Pakistan cricketer turned commentator Ramiz Raja openly mocked star batter Babar Azam during the first Test against South Africa at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The incident unfolded during Pakistan’s first innings on Day 1 after on-field umpire Senuran Muthusamy gave Babar out off a delivery. Babar was making his return to the Pakistan lineup after an absence of nearly two months, but he struggled once again in the first innings of the Lahore Test against South Africa. Though the right-handed batter got off to a decent start, he was ultimately undone by Proteas spinner Simon Harmer, failing to make a notable impact on the scoreboard.
Ramiz Raja’s on-air remark on Babar goes viral during PAK vs SA 1st Test
The incident occurred when Babar Azam walked to the crease at number four, with Pakistan in a strong position at 163/2. On the very first ball of the 49th over, the fielders aggressively claimed an edge, and the umpire initially raised his finger, giving the batter out.
Despite the umpire's initial decision, Babar immediately opted for a review. The call was ultimately overturned after UltraEdge technology confirmed there was no contact between the bat and ball, allowing the batter to continue his innings.
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During the review process, Ramiz Raja, who was on the commentary panel, openly mocked Babar Azam's action, stating, "Ye out hoga, drama karega ye" (He will get out, he will do drama). This clip quickly garnered attention within the cricketing community. Raja, who was previously known as a significant supporter of Babar, appears to have shifted his stance since the batter's recent run of poor form, now publicly trolling him during the Decision Review System (DRS).
Babar Azam's lean patch continues
Babar began his innings with a few elegant strokes against the South African bowling attack. However, after that decent start, he gradually slowed down, adopting a cautious approach that allowed the bowlers to settle and regain control of the game.
The Dismissal and Ramiz Raja's Mockery
The pressure led to his downfall when spinner Simon Harmer cleverly delivered a tossed-up ball. Babar attempted an easy flick but missed the line entirely, and the ball struck his pad. The on-field umpire initially gave him not out, offering Pakistan a temporary reprieve.
The visitors decided to review the decision. The TV umpire checked the delivery, and although UltraEdge showed no bat contact, the ball tracking indicated it was hitting the stumps. Babar was adjudged LBW, leaving him stunned and visibly disappointed as he made the walk back to the pavilion.
World Test Championship Record
Despite the disappointing dismissal, Babar Azam achieved a significant milestone in this innings, becoming the first Asian cricketer to reach 3,000 runs in the World Test Championship (WTC). He needed just two runs to hit the landmark and achieved it with a boundary off Senuran Muthusamy in the 49th over.
Before Babar, only a handful of non-Asian cricketers had crossed the 3,000-run mark in the WTC: four Australians (Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, and Usman Khawaja) and three Englishmen (Joe Root, Ben Stokes, and Zak Crawley). Among Pakistani players, Mohammad Rizwan is the next closest with over 2,000 runs, followed by Test captain Shan Masood. Among Asian batters, Indian skipper Shubman Gill is closing in on the milestone with 2,826 runs in 71 innings.