CWC 2023 [WATCH]: Hyderabad crowd erupts with Babar Azam chants during PAK vs NED match; Pakistan skipper reacts

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam is one of the most loved cricketers across the world, and his popularity has only increased in the past few years. The respect and love for the right-handed batter in the hearts of cricket enthusiasts were once again on display as the Pakistan cricket team locked horns with Netherlands in their opening game of the ODI World Cup 2023, and the crowd’s resounding chants of “Babar Azam” echoed through the Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.

Pakistan vs Netherlands match overview

Asked to bat first in the contest, Pakistan’s batting lineup faced some early setbacks. Fakhar Zaman and Imam ul Haq were dismissed early, and even Babar couldn’t make a significant impact, scoring just five runs. However, Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel displayed remarkable resilience, both contributing with impressive knocks of 68 runs each. Their partnership provided much-needed stability and laid the foundation for Pakistan’s total. The lower-order batters also chipped in with valuable runs, ultimately propelling Pakistan to a competitive total of 286.

In reply, Netherlands found themselves in a good position as Vikramjit Singh provided some resistance with a well-fought half-century, amassing 52 runs. Bas de Leede also displayed determination, contributing 67 runs to the team’s effort. Nevertheless, Pakistan’s bowlers made a remarkable comeback, reducing the Netherlands to 175/7 at one point in the game.

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Hyderabad crowd’s chants for Babar Azam and the Pakistan skipper’s heartwarming gesture

It was during this tense period of the match that the Hyderabad crowd erupted with chants of “Babar Azam.” In a heartwarming moment, Babar even acknowledged the crowd’s support by playfully gesturing to them, encouraging them to raise their voices even louder. The video of the same quickly went viral on the internet.

Here’s the video:

Hyderabad ❤️ pic.twitter.com/alXrpL7Ykw

— PSL Memes (@PSLMemesWalay) October 6, 2023

Babar Azam expresses gratitude towards Hyderabad crowd for their support

Following the match, Babar Azam expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming support from the Hyderabad crow and said that he is pleased with the hospitality.

“The way Hyderabad supported us, we are very happy. Pleased with the hospitality here,” said Babar in the post-match presentation

Match result

In the end, Pakistan emerged victorious in the contest by a significant margin of 81 runs. The Pakistan bowlers played a pivotal role in securing this crucial win for their team in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.

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