In the ongoing second Test between Pakistan and Australia at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Pakistan Babar Azam, faced another setback. Azam, 29, was dismissed by Pat Cummins, scoring only one run, misjudging the delivery and losing his wicket.
Australia vs Pakistan: Can Australia’s 318 Puts Pressure on Pakistan?
Azam’s struggles in red-ball cricket continued as he went through eight innings this year without scoring a Test fifty. It’s the first time since his debut that he hasn’t secured a half-century in a calendar year. He’s left with one more chance in 2023 to make an impact.
Throughout the year’s five Test matches, Azam’s performances remained below par. Even in Pakistan’s first red-ball encounter against New Zealand, which ended in a draw, Azam managed only 24 and 27 while captaining the side.
Azam’s batting woes persisted during a series in Sri Lanka in July 2023, where Pakistan secured victory. He contributed scores of 13, 24, and 39 across two Tests.
The current Australia tour saw Pakistan Babar Azam struggling again. He scored 21 and 14 runs in the first Test, failing to deliver when needed for his team.
Meanwhile, Australia took the upper hand by reducing Pakistan to 194-6 at the close of day two in the second Test. Mohammad Rizwan (29) and Aamer Jamal (2) were at the crease as Pakistan, initially strong at 124-1, lost momentum, particularly in the final session, which pushed them on the back foot.
Though Abdullah Shafique (62) and Shan Masood (54) scored fifties, they couldn’t convert these starts into substantial innings. Azam’s dismissal further compounded Pakistan’s batting worries in the ongoing series.
, Pakistan Babar Azam, faced another setback){kind=link}