Babar Azam Loses His Cool After Misguided Throw Hits Him on the Foot in Cape Town Test

On January 5, Pakistan’s star batter, Babar Azam, found himself at the center of controversy during Day 3 of the second Test against South Africa at Newlands, Cape Town.

After a wayward throw by South African pacer Wiaan Mulder hit Babar on the foot, the incident escalated into a heated exchange between the two players. The fiery moment quickly went viral, adding to the drama of the ongoing match.

The Incident with Wiaan Mulder

It all started in the 32nd over of Pakistan’s second innings, when Babar Azam, then on 58 off 87 balls, drove the ball back to Mulder, who was fielding in his follow-through.

Mulder, in an attempt to return the ball, threw it wildly at Babar, striking him on the foot. The throw missed its intended target and angered the Pakistani batter. Babar, visibly frustrated, had words with Mulder before the situation was diffused by the umpires.

This moment sparked considerable social media attention, with videos of the exchange between Babar and Mulder quickly circulating online.

This incident was the latest in a series of controversies surrounding Babar during the match, but it was the only instance where his temper got the better of him.

Despite this setback, Babar was looking in good form, but his promising innings ended when he was dismissed by Marco Jansen for 81 runs off 124 balls.

Babar and Shan Masood’s Partnership

Babar Azam’s frustration was momentary, as he and fellow opener Shan Masood provided the highlight of the day with a remarkable 205-run partnership for the first wicket.

This stand was a record-breaking one, as it eclipsed the previous best of 137 runs set by Imran Farhat and Taufeeq Umar in 2003. It was a dominant performance from the duo, with Masood finishing Day 3 with a solid 102 not out from 166 balls.

However, the larger context of the game was less rosy for Pakistan. They were chasing down a daunting target set by South Africa, who had piled on 615 runs in their first innings, largely thanks to Ryan Rickelton’s 259.

The hosts dominated throughout the day, with Temba Bavuma and Kyle Verreynne also contributing centuries to the score.

Despite the strong opening stand, Pakistan was still trailing by a significant margin, needing to score another 208 runs to make South Africa bat again.

South Africa’s Dominance

South Africa’s commanding performance was built on the back of their exceptional batting display. After winning the toss and opting to bat, the Proteas accumulated a massive 615 runs, with Rickelton leading the charge.

His 259-run knock was pivotal in setting an almost insurmountable target for Pakistan. Bavuma (106) and Verreynne (100) provided excellent support, ensuring that South Africa gained an enormous first-innings lead of 421 runs over Pakistan’s total of just 194.

Despite a solid effort by Pakistan’s bowlers, Mohammad Abbas and Salman Afgha, who claimed three wickets each, South Africa’s batting dominance seemed unrelenting.

Kagiso Rabada was also instrumental with the ball, taking 3 wickets for 55 runs as Pakistan’s first innings came to a swift end.

The Ongoing Battle

With Pakistan trailing by a significant margin, they were forced to follow on, which only added pressure. In their second innings, Pakistan made a better response, largely due to the efforts of Masood and Babar, who scored 81.

Despite a brief altercation with Mulder, Babar’s composed innings was a silver lining for Pakistan, but the match remained firmly under South Africa’s control.

Marco Jansen, who had been part of the exchange with Babar earlier, contributed with the bat, scoring a quick 62 off 54 balls. His aggressive knock, which included 8 fours and 3 sixes, further dented Pakistan’s hopes of a comeback.

The Proteas’ dominant lead and quick-scoring lower-order batting left Pakistan with a daunting challenge to keep up with the match’s pace.

The Road Ahead for Pakistan

With just one day remaining, Pakistan’s hopes of making a comeback seem slim, especially given their vulnerable position after Day 3.

The team will need to rely on a strong partnership between Babar and Rizwan (currently unbeaten at 9) to build a meaningful total and attempt to force South Africa to bat again.

While Pakistan’s strong partnership between Babar and Masood was a bright spot, the ongoing battle in the second Test is a significant test for the team, who must overcome not just South Africa’s batting dominance but also their own internal frustrations.

The outcome of the match will depend on how they handle the pressure on Day 4.