 "Babar Azam has gone 700-plus days without a century. Reuters")
Pakistan batter Babar Azam had another bad day with the bat as he got out for a duck in the second ODI against the West Indies on Sunday, August 10. The 30-year-old missed a half-century by three runs in the first game on Friday, and in the second match, Jayden Seales got him out for zero in just three balls.
Fans are now questioning the former Pakistan captain’s form because his last international century came way back in August 2023 against Nepal. Since then, it has been more than 700 days and 71 innings without a hundred for Babar Azam, who was once considered the successor of Virat Kohli in ODI cricket.
Fans troll Babar Azam
Fans on social media were quick to troll Babar. One wrote, “No Zimbabwe, no Nepal, no party for Babar Azam.” Another reminded everyone, “Babar Azam has now gone 71 innings and 712 days without a century. His last one came against Nepal in Asia Cup 2023.”
The match at Brian Lara Stadium did not go well for Pakistan either. Batting first in a rain-hit game, they managed only 171 for 7 in 37 overs. Babar’s dismissal came inside the powerplay when Seales bowled him and hit the stumps. Captain Mohammad Rizwan also struggled, scoring just 16 runs off 38 balls. No Pakistani batter could touch 40 runs in the innings.
Chasing a DLS target of 181 in 35 overs, West Indies got off to a good start. Even though they slipped in between, losing two quick wickets, going from 101/3 to 111/5, Roston Chase and Justin Greaves made sure there were no more hiccups. Their unbeaten 77-run stand for the sixth wicket helped West Indies win the match by five wickets and level the series 1-1.