A drop catch and a duck: Babar Azam's forgettable T20I comeback in Rawalpindi - Watch

Babar Azam's return to T20 internationals ended in disappointment as Pakistan suffered a 55-run defeat against South Africa. Azam was dismissed for a duck on his comeback, and a dropped catch by him proved costly. South Africa posted 194, with Pakistan faltering in their chase, managing only 139.

Babar Azam

NEW DELHI: Babar Azam’s much-anticipated return to T20 internationals turned into a nightmare on Tuesday as Pakistan crashed to a 55-run defeat against an under-strength South Africa in the series opener at Rawalpindi.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Making his first T20I appearance since December 2024, Babar’s comeback lasted just two balls before he was dismissed for a duck, offering a simple catch to Reeza Hendricks at cover. The dismissal stunned a packed 16,000-strong crowd that had erupted in cheers as he walked out to bat, just nine runs short of breaking Rohit Sharma’s all-time T20I runs record. Moments later, Rawalpindi fell silent as Pakistan’s most celebrated batter trudged back to the pavilion.WATCH:Babar Azam's dismissal for a duck in Rawalpindi The evening also saw Babar drop George Linde in the 17th over — a simple catch at mid-on that not only spared the South African all-rounder but also rolled over the boundary rope. Linde capitalised on the reprieve, hammering 36 off 22 balls to propel South Africa to 194/9 after being put in to bat.WATCH:Babar Azam's drop catch to give George Linde a respite Reeza Hendricks anchored the innings with a fluent 40-ball 60, while debutant Tony de Zorzi chipped in with a blistering 33 off 16. Despite Mohammad Nawaz’s 3/26 and a couple of tidy overs from Saim Ayub (2/31), Pakistan’s bowlers struggled to contain the Proteas’ early onslaught, particularly during the powerplay where the visitors piled up 74 runs. In reply, Pakistan’s chase never took off. Corbin Bosch led the Proteas’ charge with 4/14, dismissing both openers before sending Babar back early. Only Ayub (37 off 28) and Nawaz (36 off 20) offered resistance as Pakistan folded for 139 in 18.1 overs. With the series moving to Lahore for the remaining two matches, Babar will hope to rewrite his comeback story — and silence the growing whispers around his T20 future.

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