Babar Azam Reflects on Missed Chances Despite Half-Centuries Against South Africa

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Babar Azam, Pakistan’s cricket captain, expressed frustration after two dismissals marred his solid performances in a Test match against South Africa. Despite scoring two half-centuries, his shot selection became the focus of attention. In both innings, Babar played avoidable shots that led to his downfall, leaving him visibly disappointed.

Babar scored two half-centuries but was dismissed due to poor shot selection.
South Africa’s bowling offered little threat, adding to the frustration.
Pakistan’s openers struggled to capitalize on partnerships.

First-Innings Dismissal: A Familiar Mistake

During Pakistan’s first innings, Babar looked well-set before falling to a familiar weakness: the leg-side strangle. South African bowler Kwena Maphaka exploited this vulnerability by bowling a delivery down the leg side, which Babar edged to the wicketkeeper. This has been a recurring issue for him.

In a later session, Marco Jansen dismissed Babar by tempting him into chasing a wide delivery. This lapse occurred with just 15 minutes remaining in the day, compounding the team’s challenges.

Babar’s Thoughts: Disappointment Over Relief

Babar admitted that his emotions were dominated by disappointment rather than relief. He recognized the missed opportunity to build a more substantial score, especially given the favorable batting conditions. “If you settle, you must go much bigger,” he reflected.

South Africa’s bowlers struggled to maintain discipline, delivering 10 no-balls in just 49 overs. Their lack of swing and seam movement made Babar’s dismissals even more frustrating for him and the team.

Conditions and Challenges in South Africa

Babar commented on the unique conditions in South Africa, describing the pitch as surprisingly flat compared to Centurion. While the new ball posed some challenges, batting became easier with time. However, rough patches on the pitch provided occasional turn and bounce for spinners, keeping batters on alert.

Pakistan’s Shan Masood capitalized on these conditions, scoring an unbeaten century. However, Babar stressed the importance of building longer partnerships to put pressure on South Africa.

Recent Form: Signs of Improvement

Despite his frustration, Babar found some solace in his recent performances. After a two-year gap without a Test fifty, he has now scored three consecutive half-centuries. However, his dismissals in all three innings were due to poor shot selection, rather than exceptional bowling.

Babar remains Pakistan’s leading run-scorer in the series, which he attributes to valuable time spent at the crease. This stretch of consistent scoring has helped him regain confidence.

Babar’s Resilience and Lessons Learned

Reflecting on his struggles, Babar shared how he maintained self-belief during his dip in form. He emphasized the importance of staying calm and trusting his abilities. “Things change in life all the time,” he said. “I learned a lot during this time when I couldn’t meet expectations.”

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Spending time in the middle has boosted Babar’s morale, giving him the opportunity to work through challenges and rediscover his rhythm.

Looking Ahead

As the series progresses, Babar remains focused on building partnerships and leading his team to better performances. He acknowledged that cricket demands constant learning and adjustment, and he is determined to improve his game further.

Pakistan’s ability to capitalize on promising starts will be critical in their efforts to challenge South Africa. With experienced players like Babar and Masood in form, the team has a strong foundation to build upon.