'Just a reminder for our batsman its a ODI not a test' - Fans mock Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan's slow innings against Afghanistan

In the final ODI of the series, Pakistan's senior batters, Babar and Rizwan played a very slow innings, that led to criticism from the fans.

By Ahsan Jami

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3 Min Read

Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan
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Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, the senior duo of Pakistan's cricket team, faced a formidable challenge during the third ODI match against Afghanistan at Colombo's R Premadasa Stadium on Saturday, August 26.

In a match where the pitch wasn't conducive to free-flowing shots, Babar and Rizwan took centre stage as Pakistan's score to 52/2 in almost 13 overs. However, their progress was slowed by Afghanistan's pacers, and at one point, Babar found himself playing with 14 consecutive dot deliveries, an unusual thing for the usually fluent batter.

Just as the Pak inning inching towards ending on a below-par total at 103/2 after 30 overs, the pair switched gears. Rizwan, in particular, played a few well-timed shots, propelling both players to their individual half-centuries. This change in approach put Pakistan on track for a competitive total.

Despite their efforts, the duo couldn't evade the critical eyes of fans on X (formerly Twitter), who expressed dissatisfaction with their slow pace innings. The reactions, though not unexpected, underscored the intense scrutiny that modern cricketers face, even in the midst of a challenging match.

Moving on to the match, Pakistan concluded their innings at 268/8, a score that reflected Babar's hard-fought 60 off 86 balls and Rizwan's commendable 67 off 79 deliveries. The two batters effectively overcame a tricky phase and laid the foundation for a substantial partnership.

The Afghan bowlers, led by Gulbadin Naib with figures of 2/36 off nine overs, gave their all to curtail Pakistan's progress. The latter stages of Pakistan's innings saw contributions from Agha Salman and Mohammad Nawaz, who added vital runs to the total.

This match marked the culmination of a three-match series with Pakistan already securing an unassailable 2-0 lead. As both teams gear up for the Asia Cup, set to kick off on August 30 and co-hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka, Babar, Rizwan, and their respective squads have a new challenge to anticipate on the horizon.

Here is how the fans reacted on 'X' to the duo's slow innings:

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