PAK vs AUS: Imran Khan Lauds Babar Azam’s 196 In Karachi Test; Says Couldn’t Watch The Match As He Was Fighting Match Fixing

Former Captain and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan praised and congratulated current captain Babar Azam for his tremendous knock of 196 in the second Test of the three-match series against Australia, as the home side ended the match in an entertaining draw.

Set 506 runs to win by Australia, Pakistan resumed on day five at 192/2 with Babar Azam and Abdullah Shafique at the crease. The duo added 228 runs for the third wickets before Shafique was dismissed for 96 runs by Pat Cummins. Fawad Alam followed soon after making just 9 runs also falling to Cummins.

However, then Babar and vice-captain Mohammad Rizwan got together to do the saving act and at one time, it looked like Pakistan was going for the 506-run target. However, quick wickets of Babar (196), Faheem Ashraf (0) and Sajid Khan (9) put brakes on those aspirations, and Rizwan and Nauman Ali batted out the remaining overs to earn a draw as Pakistan finished the final day on 443/7 with the keeper-batter not out on 104.

Congratulations To Babar Azam For Leading The Pak Team In A Tremendous Fightback: Imran Khan

Babar Azam hit his highest Test score of 196 with 21 fours and 1 six to his name and was praised by the Pakistani PM and 1992 World Cup winner Imran Khan on Twitter.

“Congratulations to Babar Azam for leading the Pak team in a tremendous fightback with a superb captain’s inning & world class batting display; & congratulations to the rest of the team too in the way they fought back, especially Rizwan & Shafique,” said Imran in his first tweet.

Congratulations to Babar Azam for leading the Pak team in a tremendous fightback with a superb captain's inning & world class batting display; & congratulations to the rest of the team too in the way they fought back, especially Rizwan & Shafique.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) M<!---->a<!---->r<!---->c<!---->h<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2

“Unfortunately I could not watch this match as I am fighting on another front against match fixing where huge amounts of money are being used to lure my players!” The Pakistan prime minister said in his second tweet.

Unfortunately I could not watch this match as I am fighting on another front against match fixing where huge amounts of money are being used to lure my players!

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) M<!---->a<!---->r<!---->c<!---->h<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2

The third and final Test match between Australia and Pakistan will be played in Lahore from March 21 onwards. The two teams will then clash in a three-match ODI series from March 29 and one-off T20I on April 5.

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