Fri Nov 08 07:05:11 UTC 2024: ## Babar Azam’s Good Form Goes Unrewarded as Australia Wins First ODI
Pakistan captain Babar Azam showed promising form in the opening ODI against Australia, but his innings ended prematurely on 37 runs off 44 balls, leaving fans wanting more. Despite looking “hungry” for runs and exhibiting good form, Babar’s failure to convert his start into a big score drew criticism from former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali.
Ali, speaking on his YouTube channel, highlighted the high expectations associated with top players like Babar. He drew parallels to Indian star Virat Kohli, stating that even a 70-run knock wouldn’t satisfy fans, who crave big innings from their heroes. “Our people won’t be happy with 37 runs, they want Babar to score 137,” Ali said, emphasizing the pressure on these players to deliver consistently significant contributions.
While Babar’s innings was cut short by spinner Adam Zampa in the 18th over, Pakistan managed to reach 203 thanks to a commendable 44-run knock from Mohammad Rizwan. However, it wasn’t enough to secure a win. Australia chased down the target with 99 balls to spare, securing an eight-wicket victory in the series opener. Steven Smith and Josh Inglis played pivotal roles in Australia’s comfortable win.
The first ODI highlighted the high expectations surrounding Babar Azam, who is expected to consistently deliver big innings for Pakistan. Despite showing good form, his inability to capitalize on it left fans wanting more and raised questions about his ability to perform under pressure.
First Piper 