• Babar Azam tried to stop Pakistan skipper Shan Masood's stroke at the non-strikers during the warm-up game in Australia.

  • Fans came up with hilarious and diverse reactions to Babar's on-field antic.

‘What is he doing?’: Fans react as Babar Azam attempts to catch the ball hit by Shan Masood at the non-striker end – PMXI vs PAK
Babar Azam attempted to catch the ball hit by Shan Masood at the non-striker end (Image Source: Twitter)

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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:

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:

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CATEGORY: Babar Azam Twitter Reactions

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About the Author:
VISHWANATH HARIHARAN
Vishwanath Hariharan is Content Strategist at CricketTimes.com. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. From breaking news stories to in-depth features and opinion pieces, he has covered a wide range of topics. Vishwanath is very fond of watching cricket. Like many others, he too grew up watching, playing, and imitating his favourite players of the game. MS Dhoni is like a demigod to him. You can connect with him at vishwanath.hariharan@crickettimes.com and follow him on Twitter & Linkedin.