Wanindu Hasaranga cleans up Babar Azam with a ripper as Pakistan stars woeful run continues - WATCH
Babar Azam's dismal run continued in the first ODI between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi on Tuesday as he was cleaned up cheaply on 29 off 51 balls by a ripper from Wanindu Hasaranga.
Pakistan batter Babar Azam recorded yet another flop show in the first ODI against Sri Lanka at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on Tuesday, November 11. Babar's dismal run continued as he was dismissed cheaply on 29 off 51 balls, extending his long-standing century drought in international cricket.
Sri Lanka all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga produced a peach of a delivery to clean up Babar cheaply in the game. The leg-spinner, who has consistently troubled Pakistani batters in white-ball cricket, bowled a ripper to dismiss Babar in the 24th over of Pakistan's innings after the visitors won the toss and opted to bowl first in the game.
The ball landed near the fourth stump line, drawing Babar forward for defence, but ended up turning viciously after pitching to take off his off-stump. Babar's dismissal left Pakistan reeling on 94/4 in the 24th over.
Babar's dismissal on 29 meant the Pakistan batter has now managed only 83 runs in his last six ODI innings. In his last six outings in ODIs, his scores read - 0, 9, 1, 11, 27 and 29, highlighting his woeful run in the format. However, Babar's struggles are not limited to ODI cricket, which was once regarded as his best format.
The Pakistan star has failed to get going in Tests and T20Is as well. In Pakistan's recently concluded home series against South Africa, Babar endured a dismal run across all formats. He scored 131 runs in two Tests at an average of 32.75, followed by 79 runs in three T20Is against the Proteas. In the three-match ODI series against the visitors, Babar failed to notch up a single big knock as he managed only 45 runs in three matches.
No century in 83 innings in international cricket for Babar Azam
Babar has failed to score a century for Pakistan in a staggering 83 innings across all three formats in international cricket. He last scored a hundred in an ODI against Nepal in Multan on August 30, 2023. The Pakistan batter notched up a brilliant 151-run knock in the game as Pakistan won the game comprehensively by 238 runs.
However, Babar has since failed to breach the triple-figure mark in any of the three formats. It has been more than two years and 73 matches since Babar last scored a century in international cricket. He has batted for Pakistan in 83 innings in 73 matches across formats, but has failed to score a ton, showcasing his struggles at the highest level.