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The world of cricket is not just about breathtaking boundaries and wicket-taking deliveries but it’s also about the moments that make fans smile, scratch their heads, and celebrate the sport’s unpredictable nature. Pakistan’s star cricketer, Babar Azam, recently added a cheeky and unexpected twist to Pakistan’s warm-up game against Australia’s Prime Ministers XI at the Manuka Oval in Canberra.
As Pakistan geared up for a three-match Test series on their Australia tour, it was Babar’s on-field antics that stole the spotlight.
The unusual attempt to stop the ball by Babar Azam
In the midst of a decent performance by the Pakistan batters, who chose to bat first in the 4-day practice game, Babar created a moment that left fans asking, “What is he doing?”
The incident occurred on the second ball of the 36th over of Day 1 when Pakistan skipper Shan Masood executed a straight drive off Beau Webster‘s delivery. Unexpectedly, Babar, positioned at the non-striker’s end, attempted to collect the ball with his glove in a move that caught everyone off guard.
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Social media buzz
The video clip of this unusual moment was shared by cricket.com.au, who playfully captioned it, “Babar Azam keeping himself in the game at the non-striker’s end…. #PMXIvPAK.” The post quickly gained traction on social media, with fans expressing a range of reactions.
Here’s the video:
Babar Azam keeping himself in the game at the non-striker's end…. #PMXIvPAK pic.twitter.com/bMZk2Nk7pi
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 6, 2023
Fans react to Babar’s on-filed antic
Fans were swift in their responses to the unexpected move by the former Pakistan captain. Some found humour in the situation, labelling it as another example of Babar’s cheeky side. Others referred to it as a cute moment, showcasing a different facet of the talented cricketer.
However, intriguingly, some fans speculated on Babar’s intentions, suggesting that it might have been a strategic attempt to prevent the ball from reaching the boundary, possibly building pressure on Masood as the latter has taken over the Test following the 29-year-old’s resignation from the captaincy across all formats.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
https://twitter.com/iamitpal101/status/1732239045420597516
Batsman hit the ball towards Babar Azam
Babar Azam was trying to stop the ball 🙄 during practice match between Pak and Prime Minister XI (Aus)#PAKvsAUS pic.twitter.com/QO3eYaW9tQ
— Don Cricket 🏏 (@doncricket_) December 6, 2023
https://twitter.com/Haroon_HMM7/status/1732237211746357275
https://twitter.com/king6_shaheryar/status/1732257797222404265
https://twitter.com/mahesh0396/status/1732246663073534185
https://twitter.com/batool8918/status/1732237920923443497
https://twitter.com/_ravitweets_/status/1732246801443696767
https://twitter.com/magunak/status/1732237962765844991
What was he thinking 😂
— Waѕiyullah Budye (@WasiyullahB) December 6, 2023
— Akhilesh (@im25akhil) December 6, 2023
Shan Masood played a straight drive and Babar Azam wanted to catch that with gloves on 😄📷<😂#BabarAzam #PAKvAUS pic.twitter.com/zdRjw7rUkE
— Aurangzaib Rajput (@ranaking702) December 6, 2023
