AUS vs PAK: Babar Azam Fails Once Again, Fans Urge ICC To Allow Nepal And Netherlands To Play Tests vs Pakistan

Pakistan star Babar Azam, on Friday (December 29), failed to get going with the bat once again. The right-handed batsman was dismissed for 41 in the second innings of the ongoing second Test between Australia and Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

The former Pakistan captain has been under pressure for quite some time now for his failures with the bat. Widely regarded as one of the best all-format batsmen in the world, Babar Azam has struggled to deliver as per expectations in recent times. Ever since the 151-run knock against Nepal that kickstarted his Asia Cup campaign, Babar Azam’s form has been poor.

In the next 15 innings after the century against Nepal, he managed just 412 runs at an average of 29.42, with just four half-centuries and best score of 74. He struggled to do well in the ODI World Cup and faced severe criticism for his batting especially for his struggle to score quickly. In nine matches, he scored 320 runs at a strike rate of 82.90.

Babar Azam trolled after another poor show:

Pakistan failed to make it to the semifinal of the World Cup and crashed out at the league stage after managing just 4 wins in 9 games. Soon after the World Cup, Babar Azam stepped down as the captain from all three formats.

Many were expecting him to regain his old form after resigning from captaincy but he has struggled to do it so far. After scoring 21 and 14 in the first Test against Australia, he was dismissed for just 1 in the first innings of the ongoing second Test. He failed to score big in the second innings as well and was clean-bowled by Josh Hazlewood for 41.

Huge moment in this chase! Josh Hazlewood gets the better of Babar Azam again! #OhWhatAFeeling | #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/umN26tZMq1

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 29, 2023

With Pakistan chasing 317 runs, all eyes were on Babar Azam as he started positively and played some fine shots. However, he could not capitalise on the start and failed to touch the 50-run mark once again. With the former Pakistan captain failing once again, the fans took to social media to troll him.

Here are some of the reactions:

We request ICC to allow Nepal Netherlands Ireland these teams to play Test cricket so that Babar Azam and Imam ul Haq can play against them and improve their record against big teams.#BabarAzam? #PAKvAUS #PakistanCricket pic.twitter.com/wYWPEdMjnV

— Mubashir Ashfaq (@mubashirwani00) December 29, 2023

I've lost count of how many times Babar Azam has disappointed Pak fans on every big occasion in the last two years.

— Lahori Guy (@ShortCover_) December 29, 2023

And with that the 2023 season comes to an end.
What a nightmare ?#PAKvAUS pic.twitter.com/euVmuI0QRB

— King Babar Azam Army (@babarazamking_) December 29, 2023

I remember during the fag end of Dravid’s career he started getting bowled a lot. People said it was slow reflexes for Rahul, what’s happening to Babar Azam ? #AUSvPAK

— Anubhav Chandra (@ChandraAnubhav) December 29, 2023

Babar Azam in Tests in 2023 :

Innings – 9
Runs – 204
Avg. – 22.6
50s/100s – 0/0

Scores – 41, 1, 14, 21, 39, 24, 13, 27, 24

Biggest Fraud of Cricket getting exposed outside Pakistan pitches , proper home bully.pic.twitter.com/ibnFlCVvjB

— MagNum (@magnum_vk18) December 29, 2023

A class batter

But Babar Azam has found AUS conditions tough going

14 Test innings for 355 runs at an average of just 25

? #AUSvPAK

— Glenn Mitchell (@MitchellGlenn) December 29, 2023

Bobsy the King kar lega ?#PAKvAUS #BabarAzam?pic.twitter.com/6x29Z0n6yL

— kohlity. (@Kohlity82) December 29, 2023

Meray ?️ ka ? aka Bobsy the Nepal azam.#AUSvsPAKpic.twitter.com/iYXcA2jlTT

— Mustafa Masood Qureshi (@mustafamasood23) December 29, 2023

Bobsy the king or L!ng#PAKvAUS pic.twitter.com/U3XokkIviz

— BowledX? (@Bowled_titan) December 29, 2023

Give me Zimbabwe,
Give me Nepal,
Give me Pindi roads,
Or I’ll retire
~ Bobsy The King#AUSvsPAK #PAKvsAUS pic.twitter.com/CGNqMQlvD2

— Heisenberg. (@BobsyKarLega) December 29, 2023

The latest failure means Babar Azam has finished 2023 without a single half-century in Tests. In 5 Tests this year, he has scored 204 runs at an average of less than 23. Meanwhile, Pakistan were on 164 for 5 at the time of writing this report. They need 153 runs more to win their first Test in Australia since 1995.