Babar Azam has shunned his critics after a match-winning knock of 75 off just 42 deliveries. The Pakistan skipper delivered when it mattered the most, as the Green Shirts made a comeback from 1-0 down, to clinch the bilateral T20I series, 2-1.
Most fans and critics have no doubts over the cricketing prowess of Babar Azam. Their criticisms on the 30-year-old, are mostly related to his strike-rate, and the pace at which he scores those runs. Babar Azam has defended his playing style on many instances in the past, but he just could not stop smashing those sixes in the 3rd T20I against Ireland.
One would think that scoring 75 runs is nothing peculiar. The peculiarity in Babar’s knock on Tuesday, takes us back to a feud and a remark, passed on by one of Azam’s biggest critics, in Basit Ali.
BET NOW: Exclusive sign-up offers and bonuses when you bet on IPL action
How much did Babar Azam score in the 3rd T20I against Ireland?
Babar Azam scored 75 runs off just 42 deliveries, in Pakistan’s third and final T20I against Ireland. The Green Shirts emerged triumphant in the three-match bilateral series, only a few weeks before the T20I World Cup.
He hit six fours and five sixes in his 75-run knock, striking the ball at 178, and shunning his critics down. The highlight of Babar Azam’s innings, came in the 14th over of the run chase, as Azam took down Benjamin White to three massive sixes, back to back.
The Pakistan skipper hit three consecutive sixes on the first three deliveries of the 14th over. That was not it, as Babar hit a six on the fifth delivery of the same over, making it four in the over. Azam took White to the cleaners, scoring 25 runs off his over.
MORE: When will Gary Kirsten join the Pakistan team?
What did Basit Ali say about Babar Azam?
Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali challenged Babar to hit three straight sixes ahead of the upcoming T20I World Cup 2024. The critic had challenged the Pakistan skipper to get out of his comfort zone, and go on all-attack mode.
If, against the top teams (not USA, Ireland, etc), Babar Azam can hit three sixes down the ground, straight, then I will stop talking on TV and shut down my YouTube channel. And if he cannot do this in the World Cup then he should stop opening the innings for Pakistan. This is my challenge to him.
MORE: Can Babar Azam hit 3 straight sixes against a top team? Basit Ali lays down a challenge for Pakistan captain ahead of T20 World Cup 2024
Has Babar Azam completed the challenge?
Babar Azam has certainly shown that he can hit sixes at will after his blistering knock against Ireland. However, considering Basit Ali’s challenge, which involved Babar delivering with big hits against top teams and not minnows like USA and Ireland, the Pakistan skipper is yet to fulfill the challenge.