Babar Azam shunned his critics after winning the match with a knockout of 75 off just 42 deliveries. The Pakistan captain played in the most important moments as the Green Shirts came back from a 1-0 deficit to clinch the T20I series between the two countries 2-1.
Most fans and critics have no doubts about Babar Azam’s cricketing talent. Their criticism of the 30-year-old primarily revolves around his strike rate and the pace at which he scores his runs. Babar Azam has defended his style of play many times in the past, but he couldn’t stop his six smashes in the third T20I against Ireland.
Some might think that scoring 75 points is nothing special. The strangeness of Babar’s knock on Tuesday is reminiscent of the feud and remarks of Basit Ali, one of Azam’s biggest critics.
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How many runs did Babar Azam score in the 3rd T20I against Ireland?
In Pakistan’s third and final T20I against Ireland, Babar Azam scored 75 runs off just 42 deliveries. The Green Shirts won the three-match Ryōgoku series just weeks before the T20I World Cup.
He shook off his critics by hitting six fours and five sixes and hitting the ball for 178 in a 75-run knock. The highlight of Babar Azam’s innings was in the 14th over of the run chase when Azam brought down Benjamin White for a massive score of three consecutive sixes.
The Pakistan captain hit three consecutive sixes in the first three deliveries of the 14th over. However, Babar in his fifth delivery of the same over he hit a six, making it his over for four. Azam brought White to the cleaners and scored 25 runs off the over.
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What did Basit Ali say about Babar Azam?
Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has challenged Babar to hit three consecutive sixes ahead of the upcoming 2024 T20I World Cup. Pundits challenged the Pakistan captain to step out of his comfort zone and go into all-out attacking mode.
If Babar Azam could hit three sixes down the stretch against a top team (not America, Ireland, etc.), I would stop speaking on TV and shut down my YouTube channel. And if he can’t do that in the World Cup, then he should stop playing the opening innings for Pakistan. This is my challenge to him.
Read more: Can Babar Azam score three consecutive sixes against top teams? Basit Ali offers challenge to captain Pakistan ahead of 2024 T20 World Cup
Is Babar Azam completed? Challenge?
Babar Azam certainly showed that he can hit sixes at will after his blistering knock against Ireland. But given Basit Ali’s challenge for Babar to deliver big hits against top teams rather than scrappy teams like America and Ireland, the Pakistan captain is yet to achieve that challenge.
