Babar Azam silenced his critics with a fighting century

Opinion Wednesday 16/March/2022 10:18 AM
By: Anis Sajan, Vice Chairman, Danube group
Babar Azam silenced his critics with a fighting century

Babar Azam silenced his critics by scoring sixth test hundred in two years against Australia which has helped Pakistan fight another day in a gripping test match.

After being the lone warrior in the first innings when he was the 9th batsman to be dismissed in the first innings when Pakistan were blown away by Mitchell Starcs reverse swing for just 148, Babar came on to bat when Pakistan were 21/2 and defeat looked very ominous. Pakistan had to survive 172 overs to save the game after being set a target of 506 by Pat Cummins and the ball was hard with Australian bowlers tail up.

Babar who is always on the receiving end  if Pakistan don't do well and the cricket Pundits and you tube bloggers were all behind is back to be sacked as they believed Babar does not have the same aggressiveness as test captain and has asked the pitch curator to prepare dead wickets. This was the time he had to prove his detractors wrong and what better time to get a hundred when Pakistan most needed to fight another day at a fortress of Karachis National stadium where Pakistan has just lost two test matches before. His last hundred had come in Feb 2020 against Bangladesh and all the fans where asking when will Babar who is considered Pakistans best batsman score his next hundred? He has just played 38 test matches and this was his sixth hundred and has a decent average of 44 but when you are Pakistans captain the expectations automatically grow and so was the case with Babar Azam.

Babar Azam along with his partner Abdullah Shafique have to bat out another 90 overs to save the test match and it won't be easy as the new ball is just taken and there will be demons of the first innings collapse in the captains mind. Can he save the game, only time will tell but there is very little doubt today and if anyone can help Pakistan save the test match it is their best batsman Babar Azam.