CAPE TOWN (The COW News Digital) Pakistan captain Babar Azam has equaled an unwanted record held by former all-rounder Shahid Afridi, after being dismissed for a duck in the opening T20 International against South Africa.
Facing just two deliveries, Babar was sent back without scoring by Corbin Bosch in the final over of the powerplay. The dismissal marked the eighth time in his T20 International career that the star batsman has been dismissed for zero, matching Afridi’s tally in the same format.
With this, Babar joins Afridi among Pakistan’s top three players with the most ducks in T20Is — a list that also includes Umar Akmal, Saim Ayub, and Kamran Akmal. The record, often referred to as an “unwanted milestone,” highlights the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket, where even world-class batters can falter under pressure.
The match itself proved disappointing for Pakistan. Chasing a daunting target of 195 runs, the entire team collapsed for just 139 runs in 18.1 overs, handing South Africa a 55-run victory in the first match of the series.
South African bowler Corbin Bosch was the star performer with the ball, taking four wickets, including the crucial scalp of Babar Azam. Reeza Hendricks provided the backbone of South Africa’s innings with a fluent 60 off 40 balls, setting up a strong platform for his side.
For Pakistan, Mohammad Nawaz was the most effective bowler, claiming three wickets for 26 runs, while also contributing 36 runs with the bat. Saim Ayub showed glimpses of his potential with a brisk 37, but the rest of the batting lineup failed to build partnerships, collapsing against disciplined South African bowling.
This latest defeat adds to Pakistan’s recent struggles in the T20 format, where inconsistency and top-order failures have become recurring concerns. Analysts believe that Babar, despite being one of the world’s leading T20 batters, is under increasing pressure to translate his form into match-winning innings, especially in high-stakes games.
The two sides will meet again in the second T20I later this week, where Pakistan will look to bounce back and level the series. Babar Azam, meanwhile, will be eager to put this setback behind him and lead from the front with the bat.
