On Sunday, Pakistan lost the final match of Asia Cup 2022 against Sri Lanka at Dubai International Stadium by 23 runs. Chasing 171 for a win, Pakistani skipper opener batter Babar Azam was out scoring just 5 runs off 6 balls at the team’s total 22 scores on the second ball of the fourth over. Earlier, Babar has to go to the pavilion for a duck against Afghanistan in their second super-4 match. So, Pakistani fans are blaming Babar Azam’s form for losing the tournament’s final against Sri Lanka, and for his poor form, they are blaming his handshake with Indian batter Virat Kohli who met him in Dubai before the start of the tournament.
Babar’s performance in the Asia Cup 2022: in league matches– 10 off 9 balls against India, 9 off 8 balls vs Hong Kong, in super-4 phase– 14 off 10 balls against India, 0 off 1 ball vs Afghanistan, 30 off 29 balls vs Sri Lanka) in the tournament
Soon after Babar’s dismissal in the final match, many fans took to Twitter and drew comparisons between Babar and Virat Kohli, who too was going through a rough patch before this Asia Cup, and is now a little bit good after scoring his long-time (more than 1000 days) wait a century against Afghanistan in India’s last super 4 match. The 33-year old batter hit an unbeaten 122-run off 61 balls.
Here are a few reactions of fans over Babar’s poor form on Twitter
A user shared Babar and Virat Kohli’s handshake pic, and wrote,
The moment Babar Azam lost his form.
Another user said sharing the Babar’s pic that had text,
Ma kasam zindagi main dobara Virat Kohli se hath nahi milaunga (For mom shake, I would never go for a handshake with Virat Kohli).
Another fan shared a funny pic of South Indian film star Junior NTR writing,
Babar Azam after shaking hands with Virat Kohli.
Junior NTR
There are too many funny poststhat are trending on Twitterand referring to Babar Azam’s poor form after a handshake with Virat Kohli.
In the Asia Cup final, Chasing the 171 target given by Sri Lanka for a win, Pakistan could manage only 147/10 in 20 overs.Wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan (55 of 49 balls) scored highest and Iftikhar Ahmad scored 32 off 31 balls. Haris Rauf was the best bowler and took three wickets for 29 runs in 4 overs.
An overview of Babar Azam’s performances in the Asia Cup 2022 from league to final:
in league matches–
- 10 runs off 9 balls against India,
- 9 runs off 8 balls vs Hong Kong
in super-4 phase–
- 14 runs off 10 balls against India
- 0 off 1 ball vs Afghanistan
- 30 runs off 29 balls vs Sri Lanka
in the final match-
- 5 runs off 6 balls
Total score in all matches (6 innings):
- 68 runs
Read also:“Good Toss To Lose”: Mahela Jayawardena on Sri Lanka’s Asia Cup Final Win vs Pakistan
