The onus was on Babar Azam to play the captain’s knock against Dasun Shanaka and company in game eight of the ICC World Cup 2023 as Sri Lankan batsmen were having a good time on Tuesday in Hyderabad. In the 50-over match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Sri Lanka amassed a staggering total of 344-9 thanks to centuries from star batsmen Kusal Mendis and gloveman Sadeera Samarawickrama.
Legendary Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar put his faith in top-ranked One Day International (ODI) batter Babar to lead Pakistan to a spectacular run-chase for the 1992 World Champions by rallying behind him. During the innings break, Akhtar posted a video on X (previously known as X) to show his support for Babar’s team. Akhtar titled his tweet on the microblogging site, “I’m trusting King Babar!!!” After Babar fell short of expectations in the high-scoring match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, Akhtar received a lot of teasing.
Gautam Gambhir’s World Cup performance was a wake-up call for Cummins and company following India’s defeat: “Australia may have lost its spot in the semifinals.”
The video “I’m Trusting King Babar” by Akhtar became popular on X.
In Pakistan’s eighth over of the innings, Babar was out after being bowled for 10 off of 15 balls. Dilshan Madushanka of Sri Lanka, who won the match-winning wicket of the Pakistan captain in Hyderabad, outwitted the top hitter. A fan made fun of Akhtar by saying, “Missed by 190 is trending in my country.” Another supporter chimed in, “10 runs solely because of your trust.”
Babar’s World Cup batting slump
Babar was removed for 5 against the Netherlands in Pakistan’s World Cup opener before playing a lacklustre innings against Sri Lanka. Babar has failed to record a 50-plus score in five successive One Day International matches for the first time in the previous five years (ODIs). In the ICC World Cup warm-up games against Australia and New Zealand, Babar scored morale-boosting totals of 80 and 90.
