Babar Azam’s return to T20 international cricket did not go as planned, as the star batter was dismissed for a two-ball duck in the first match against South Africa in Rawalpindi. After missing out on the Asia Cup squad, this series was seen as a crucial chance for Babar to secure his place ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Coming in at No. 3 to loud cheers from a packed crowd, Babar needed only nine runs to break the all-time record for most T20I runs. However, he edged a quick delivery from Corbin Bosch straight to the cover fielder, leaving fans stunned and the former Pakistan captain visibly heartbroken in the dressing room.
This dismissal marked Babar’s eighth T20I duck, placing him third among Pakistani players with the most ducks in the format. Pakistan’s chase struggled overall, failing to keep up with South Africa’s strong total of 195 runs, eventually losing by 55 runs to fall 0-1 behind in the three-match series.
