New Delhi: Pakistan batter Babar Azam’s lean patch continued in the ODI series against South Africa as he was dismissed cheaply on 27 runs in the third and final ODI between the two sides at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad on Saturday, November 08. After he managed only 18 runs combined in the first two ODIs, a big knock was expected from Babar in the third and final game on Saturday, however, the former Pakistan skipper failed to deliver again.
In a straightforward 144-run chase, Babar came out to bat at no.3 after Pakistan lost opener Fakhar Zaman on a duck in the very first over. He had a chance to build an innings, but was run out after scoring 27 off 32 balls. He added 65 runs for the second wicket with young Saim Ayub, who scored a brilliant 77 to take Pakistan home in a comfortable chase.
Babar, who was dismissed cheaply on 7 and 11 in the first two games, respectively, ended the three-match series with a disappointing 45 runs from three matches at a dismal average of 15, with a strike rate of 78.95. Though he has managed to return among the runs for Pakistan in recent times, Babar has endured an extended lean patch across formats.
72 matches without a ton in international cricket
Babar Azam has gone as many as 72 matches without scoring a century for Pakistan in international cricket. He last scored a ton in an ODI against minnows Nepal in Multan on August 30, 2023. He notched up a stellar 151-run knock in the game. However, Babar has since failed to reach the three-figure mark in 72 matches across all formats.
His failure in the 3rd ODI against South Africa in Faisalabad on Saturday meant he has now batted 82 innings in all three formats without scoring a century for Pakistan. Since August 30, 2023, Babar has 2394 runs to his name in 72 matches at a poor average of 31.09, without a single century. For a batter of his class and calibre, it is a concerning sign.
Babar failed to impress throughout South Africa’s all-format tour of Pakistan. In Tests, he managed 131 runs in four innings at an average of 32.75, followed by 79 runs in three T20Is against the Proteas. He finished the ODI series with 45 runs on Saturday to cap off a disappointing campaign.