Pakistan pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi was caught on camera insulting his teammate and former skipper Babar Azam on Day 4 of 1st Test vs England in Multan.
The cracks are starting to open up in the Pakistan cricket team after 5 losses in Test cricket on the trot and facing a sixth one on Day 5 of the first Test against England in Multan. Pakistan team have their backs against the wall even after scoring 556 in the first innings of the first Test vs England.
The home side have already lost their last two Tests at home to Bangladesh. There is speculation that all is not well between Pakistan pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi and former captain Babar Azam.
Critics have often branded Babar Azam as ‘Zimbabar’ or ‘Zimbu’ for his inability to score runs against top-class opposition. Babar’s poor run of form continued on Thursday when he was dismissed for just 5 on a placid Multan track on which England posted 823 for 7 decl.
A video of Shaheen Shah Afridi insulting Babar Azam with the same nickname of ‘Zimbu’ went viral on social media. Although there is no audio on the video, fans can easily spot the left-arm pacer referring to Babar as ‘Zimbu’.
WATCH Shaheen Shah Afridi insult Babar Azam on Day 4 of 1st Test vs England HERE…
Shaheen Afridi to Babar Azam ” zimbu zimbu zimbu zimbu zimbu ” #shaheenafridi || #BabarAzam || #PAKvENG || #PAKvsENG || #PakistanCricket $ZAAR pic.twitter.com/20bR0iGIff
— I’m_Jawed (@ImJawed14) October 10, 2024
Babar Azam was dismissed caught behind by Jamie Smith for 5 as Pakistan slipped to 41 for 3 after conceding a 267-run first innings lead. They ended Day 4 at 152 for 6, after being reduced to 82 for 6.
Shaheen Shah Afridi had a forgettable outing with the ball, claiming 1/120 as England’s Harry Brook smashed 317 and Joe Root notched up 262.
Records were shattered left and right as Joe Root and Brook induldged in a fun battle for milestones during their 454-run partnership that not only broke the 67-year-old record for the highest partnership by an English pair, but outbatted hosts Pakistan by miles in their home territory as they desperately search for a victory at home.
Speaking during the press conference after Day 4, Brook said, “The wicket was batting friendly for the majority of time. Hope it deteriorates now (as England is bowling and looking for wickets). I just wanted to cash in as much as I possibly could.
“Me and Root were trying to cash on that pitch. It was a great pitch. They bowled well in patches but we managed to put pressure back on them on right time. We put the bad balls away. Spinners when they bowled around the wicket, it was a tough period for us. It was an unreal wicket. Would like to probably roll it open, take it with me. Especially the third day,” he added.
(with ANI inputs)