Fri Nov 08 05:44:03 UTC 2024: ## Pakistan Fans’ High Expectations for Babar Azam Echo Indian Fans’ Pressure on Kohli
**Melbourne, Australia:** Following Pakistan’s narrow 2-wicket loss to Australia in the first ODI at the MCG, former Pakistan star Basit Ali has highlighted the immense pressure on captain Babar Azam, mirroring the expectations Indian fans have on Virat Kohli.
Despite scoring 37 runs in the match, Ali believes Pakistani fans will not be satisfied, demanding much higher scores from their star batsman. “Our people won’t be happy with 37 runs, they want Babar to score 137,” Ali stated on his YouTube channel. He compared this to Indian fans’ dissatisfaction with Kohli’s 70-run knock, indicating a similar pressure faced by both players.
Meanwhile, Pakistani speedster Haris Rauf acknowledged the team’s mistakes in the match. Despite taking a few wickets, particularly through his fiery bowling, Rauf admitted that the team was ultimately unable to clinch victory. The match saw a thrilling comeback by Australia after losing their top order, with a key 85-run partnership between Steven Smith and Josh Inglis setting the foundation for the win.
However, the victory wasn’t without its hiccups. Australia found themselves struggling at 3 wickets down, with Pakistan threatening a potential upset. Rauf and Shaheen Afridi’s bowling prowess sparked hope for a Pakistani win, but ultimately Australia’s experience and resilience proved too strong.
This loss marks Australia’s 27th victory in 28 completed matches at home across all formats, showcasing their dominant home performance. Pakistan will be hoping to regroup and learn from their mistakes in the upcoming matches of the series.
First Piper 