BRIDGETOWN: In the second innings of the Troba Test, West Indies set Pakistan a target of 211 runs to win the match. During the third over of Pakistan’s batting, captain Babar Azam had to step onto the field as an opener because opener Shan Masood, who scored a century in the first innings, was injured with a finger fracture.
Following Imam-ul-Haq’s departure, and the dismissals of Zeeshan Oves and Salman Agha, who had aggregated 25 runs, Babar Azam and former captain and wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan formed a crucial 19-run partnership for the fourth wicket. During this partnership, Babar faced 21 balls and scored 9 runs, while Rizwan played 28 balls and added 11 runs.
After losing four wickets at 46 runs, the senior batter was expected to hold the innings together and take control, but the situation was far from ideal. Wickets fell consistently like autumn leaves, and Babar, surprisingly, continued to take singles while watching Pakistan’s wickets tumble from the other end.
Babar Azam eventually remained unbeaten on 58 runs off 107 balls, hitting nine boundaries. However, his batting style and approach against the West Indies bowlers drew criticism from many observers.
The way Babar batted in the Troba Test’s second innings has become a topic of debate. It was alarming that, within 28.2 overs, nine Pakistani wickets had fallen for just 71 runs, and the defeat seemed imminent. On Pakistan’s final wicket, Babar and Mohammad Abbas added 49 runs in twelve overs, with Abbas scoring 23 off 33 balls and Babar making 21 off 41 balls.
