When we talk about the big names of cricket, we usually remember the magnificent strokes and victories. But sometimes in the game, there are also statistics that are not pleasant for the players. Recently, Pakistan's star batsman Babar Azam equaled a record that he himself would rarely want to have — the record for the most "duck outs" (out for zero) in T20 International matches, which was previously in the name of the renowned fast batsman Shahid Afridi .
Background of the incident
The incident occurred in a crucial match of the same series when Pakistan, despite their hard work, were forced to settle for a sixth-place finish against South Africa at the Rawalpindi Stadium. Babar Azam came under intense pressure in this match and was dismissed for duck after playing just two balls. With this dismissal, Babar Azam's total "duck outs" in tournaments rose to eight, equaling Shahid Afridi's tally for the longest spell.
Brief history of the match
In this match, South Africa defeated Pakistan by 55 runs. The entire Pakistan team was all out for 139 runs while South Africa successfully chased down the target of 194. Corbin Bush showed outstanding bowling in the match and was prominent by taking four wickets. Reeza Hendricks did not bat well for South Africa but played an important innings of 60 runs while George Lynde gave his team a big advantage with his quick shots.
Read Also: Pakistan vs South Africa T20 Prediction
National scenario of duck outs
According to media reports, the above rank of duck outs among Pakistan's T20 players is as follows:
| Status | Player | T20I Duck Outs |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Umar Akmal | 10 |
| 2 | Sim Ayoub | 9 |
| 3 | Babar Azam | 8 |
| 3 | Shahid Afridi | 8 |
| 5 | Kamran Akmal | 7 |
| 5 | Muhammad Hafeez | 7 |
Does this record make sense?
This record may seem negative, but in cricket, there is a story behind every statistic. Duckouts usually happen during the opening or powerplay when the batsman tries to score quickly or the opening bowler creates a threat by bowling on a tight line and length. Despite being a great batsman, Babar Azam's inclusion in this list is proof that occasional failures happen to everyone in the game.
Analysis: The future path for Babar Azam
Instead of taking a negative view of Babar Azam's performance, we should look at how he will solve this problem. Below are some practical tips that can be useful for any top batsman:
- Better assessment of match conditions and risk calculation in power plays
- Practice bearing pressure in the first few balls of batting.
- Mental coaching and work on mental strength
- Physical preparation and technical adjustments against early bowling
The Future Possibilities and Hopes
Babar Azam is still a young but experienced batsman. One poor innings or one series cannot derail his career. Through hard work, study and coaching, he can quickly overcome his weaknesses. Fans and analysts should also realize that every player in the game faces difficulties from time to time.
