In a disappointing turn of events for Pakistan cricket, star batter Babar Azam has etched his name into an ignominious T20I record. This occurred during the final league stage match of the ongoing T20I tri-series, where Sri Lanka secured a thrilling six-run victory, also confirming their spot in the final.
Sri Lanka successfully defended a total of 184 runs against a resilient Pakistan lineup. While captain Salman Ali Agha staged a remarkable comeback with a stellar innings, Azam’s contribution was cut short with a second-ball duck. This brought his T20I duck count for Pakistan to 10, joint-highest with Umar Akmal and Saim Ayub.
The tournament has been particularly challenging for Azam, who managed only 90 runs across four matches, averaging a modest 22.5 with a strike rate of 113.92. This dip in form follows a recent century against Sri Lanka in an ODI, which ended a long international innings drought. His current struggles for runs and consistency raise significant concerns for the Pakistan team’s prospects.
Sri Lanka posted a competitive 184/6 in their allotted 20 overs, largely due to Kamil Mishara’s aggressive 76 off 48 balls. Pakistan’s chase faltered early, slipping to 43/4 within the first six overs. However, a crucial 56-run partnership between Salman Ali Agha and Usman Khan revitalized the innings. Agha remained unbeaten on 63, but his efforts were ultimately insufficient as Pakistan fell short in the final overs.
Despite this loss, Pakistan had already secured their place in the final. They are set to face Sri Lanka once again in the championship match on Saturday, November 29.