Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam’s struggle to convert good starts into significant scores in Test cricket continued as he once again fell victim to a promising opportunity and was dismissed by star all-rounder of Bangladesh, Shakib Al Hasan.
Babar was deceived by an arm ball from Shakib, failing to gauge the length and was trapped in front of the stumps. He made his way back to the dressing room on Day 2 of the second Test at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Babar has now gone 15 innings without a single half-century in Test cricket.
He returned from tours of Sri Lanka and Australia without a half-century and in the ongoing Test series against Bangladesh, his scores have been 0, 22, and 31. His batting average has now dipped below 45.
Earlier in the day Babar batted early in the second session after skipper Shan Masood, who lost the toss, scored 57 runs off 69 balls before being dismissed lbw by Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
Masood formed a solid 107-run partnership for the second wicket with Saim Ayub after Abdullah Shafique was out for a duck. Babar faced trouble from young pacer Nahid Rana, who dismissed him in the previous Test. Meanwhile, Saim Ayub was stumped by Miraz for a 110-ball 58.
Babar managed to hit his first boundary off the 28th ball he faced, striking Rana for a four past the mid-off fielder. Meanwhile, Saud Shakeel fell victim to Taskin Ahmed, dragging one on to his stumps.
After Babar’s dismissal, wicketkeeper-batter Rizwan also departed the crease. Babar appeared uncomfortable throughout his innings, fortunate to receive a boundary through an inside edge against Hasan Mahmud before succumbing to Shakib in the all-rounder’s fifth over, having scored 31 runs from 77 balls.
