Babar Azam equals Imran Khan's 'Unwanted' Batting Record

image-llnfx5a2Babar going back after getting a 3-ball duck [Twitter]

Pakistan, who have never been beaten by Afghanistan in ODIs, kept their unbeaten record intact after winning the first of the ongoing three-match series against the neighbouring country. They won the first ODI against Afghanistan by a big margin of 142 runs. 

It was an eventful night for the Pakistan side, but a forgettable outing for skipper Babar Azam, who registered his fourth duck in ODI cricket and the second one as a skipper. 

With this, he has equalled the record of former captains - Imran Khan, Javed Miandad, Azhar Ali, and Younis Khan. Overall, this was Babar's 16th duck in international cricket. This was also the first time since 2021 that he failed to score a single run in an ODI.

Babar, who was in great form in the recent Lanka Premier League, will now look to make amends for the duck in the second ODI.

Talking about the game, opener Imam-ul-Haq scored 61 runs off 94 deliveries while Iftikhar Ahmad and Shadab Khan also made significant contributions in the middle overs to help Pakistan post 201 runs in the first innings. Afghanistan, in reply, were bowled out for merely 59 runs. Only one player from their lineup managed to score in double digits as Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf bowled brilliantly. 

Rauf picked up five wickets, Afridi took two while Naseem Shah and Shadab Khan picked up a wicket each.

Pakistan have been in good form in ODIs recently and they'll become the number one ranked ODI team if they register a whitewash in the ongoing series.