New Delhi: Pakistan cricket captain Babar Azam’s brilliant century against Australia is being praised across the cricketing world, even as his country’s prime minister, Wazir-e-Azam Imran Khan, is playing his own game, albeit political.
From legend Vivian Richards to Michael Vaughan to cricket and sports lovers from all over the world, all praised Babar Azam’s innings of 196 in the fourth innings of the second Test match in Karachi. His last day heroics saved Pakistan from defeat as it was chasing a mammoth 506-run target to win the home Test against Australia.
What an exceptional display of talent by these two. World cricket is blessed to witness such players in the middle.
Well done @babarazam258 @iMRizwanPak 🙌 https://t.co/mQKUoPq3AG
— Sir Vivian Richards (@ivivianrichards) March 16, 2022
But everyone’s eyes were on what Imran Khan had to say.
The PM Thursday tweeted to inform Pakistanis why he couldn’t watch Azam bat.
Unfortunately I could not watch this match as I am fighting on another front against match fixing where huge amounts of money are being used to lure my players!
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 17, 2022
Why Australia frustrated and Azam’s records
Pakistan’s leading English language newspaper Dawn said, “Australia were frustrated on the final day of the second Test at the National Stadium in Karachi on Wednesday as a resilient Pakistan snatched a draw from the jaws of defeat.”
Azam not only saved Pakistan from defeat with his tremendous innings but also made three records in his name.
Azam became the first player from Pakistan as well as the first captain to score maximum runs in the fourth innings. At the same time, he also made the record for playing maximum deliveries in the fourth innings.
According to Dawn, previously Younis Khan held the record of highest score by a Pakistani batsman in the fourth innings.
The Express Tribune titled its report ‘When a draw felt better than victory’ and called the moment ‘historic’.
“History is witness that such a big task of batting two days on a spinning track is rarely achieved in Test cricket. The match had all the elements that make a Test match such an interesting idea, and it was also the perfect promotion of the concept that even a draw can be as entertaining as a Test match with a result,” it said.
During a debate on Sama TV, it was said that Azam’s sixth Test century ended the century famine after 2020. ARY News also aired a show on Azam’s knock.
‘Good game, Captain’
Pakistanis are unhappy with Imran Khan’s tweet accusing the Opposition of trying to woo his colleagues through money.
One Irfan Ahmed said, “This part was definitely not needed. Sports, Politics 2 separate things,” even as another called it “childish”.
A user named Afraz said, ‘I can’t believe that a sitting Prime Minister is crying and trying to find solace against an opposition he once dubbed as ‘berozgar siyasatdan’..’
One user from Islamabad also couldn’t believe Imran Khan’s tweet.
I honestly thought this was a parody account https://t.co/geLKvdtJ1Z
— T Sohail ✊🏽 (@tsohail2010) March 17, 2022
A user Kamran from Lahore lambasted the PM saying his time was up.
No u r not fighting a holy war against some evil forces u r just venting anger hate mongering and insighting violence against a democratic process ur time is up cut loose bye bye https://t.co/rS3WCVwJ5Q
— کامران علی خان شیروانی (@KamranSherwani) March 17, 2022
Many users, however, enjoyed Imran Khan’s tweet, saying it shows why Pakistanis are “so good at trolling”.
The kind of trolling this man can do. No wonder all of us are so good at trolling 🙂 https://t.co/xYw33ulxDk
— Semal (@semolucious) March 17, 2022
ہاہاہا۔۔ اچھا کھیل گئے ہو کپتان 💖
— Waqas Amjad ( محترم ) (@waqas_amjaad) March 17, 2022
Amir Liaquat Hussain, a member of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), said, “Real players are those who can fight with you courageously on your team selection, they do not need money to challenge you!”
A user named Naeem Khan shared the scene of a cricket match in which Pakistan PM Imran Khan is seen surrounded from all sides.
And situation right now is something like this 🙄 pic.twitter.com/GMAWzKlrRL
— Naeem Khan (@RealNaeemPTI) March 17, 2022