The Pakistan men’s cricket team is preparing for the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, set to commence on July 16 in Galle. This series not only marks an important encounter for Pakistan but also signifies the beginning of their campaign in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle.
However, ahead of the series, a captivating video of Pakistan’s skipper, Babar Azam, during a net session has gone viral on social media. Cricket Pakistan shared the uncensored video on Twitter, showcasing Babar’s exceptional skills and enthusiasm during practice. In the video, Babar can be seen confidently playing shots to all parts of the field while urging the throw-down provider to surprise him with bouncers.
Throughout the video clip, Babar exhibited his animated and expressive nature. The video starts with him uttering ‘Allah’ after leaving a delivery outside the off-stump. Even after mistiming a shot, the Pakistan captain can be heard shouting ‘Babar day bachay’ (a phrase often used to motivate oneself) loudly.
Notably, Babar takes pride in his well-executed shots, often appreciating them vocally. He exclaimed ‘Haye Haye’ immediately after hitting the ball towards mid-on and added an ‘oye lala’ remark following a successful pull shot towards square leg.
Interacting with the throw-down provider, Babar instructed him to bowl bouncers at his own will, emphasizing that the opposition won’t seek his permission before delivering such bumpers. He humorously mentioned, ‘woh poochke thori karenge’ (the opposition won’t ask me before bowling a bouncer).
Here is the video:
Babar Azam uncensored during the the practice session 🗣️
'Babar day bachay' , 'Oye Lala' , 'Pooch ke thori bouncer karaingay'
Video courtesy: @zaidhassan89 #SLvPAK #BabarAzam pic.twitter.com/eSmCNfIQfv
— Cricket Pakistan (@cricketpakcompk) July 11, 2023
It is noteworthy that Pakistan had a disappointing campaign in the previous WTC cycle, failing to secure a single home victory. In the past year, the Men in Green have managed only one Test win out of nine matches and suffered series defeats against Australia and England at home.
Consequently, Babar’s captaincy in the longest format has attracted scrutiny, and he has a point to prove in the upcoming Test battle against the Islanders. The viral net session video serves as a glimpse into Babar’s determination and dedication as he strives to lead Pakistan to success in the WTC and revive the team’s fortunes in Test cricket.
