[Watch] Babar Azam Swarmed By Fans As PAK Team Returns Home After World Cup 2023

Pakistan captain Babar Azam signalling his bowlers at the 2023 World Cup (AP)

Pakistan team has returned back home from India after failing to qualify for the World Cup 2023 semi-finals. Captain Babar Azam himself was recently spotted at the airport where he was swarmed by fans and security personnel.

Babar Azam gets a warm welcome by fans at airport

Pakistan captain Babar Azam, despite coping much criticism for team’s lackluster performance at the 2023 World Cup, received a warm welcome by fans at the airport upon his return. The batting veteran was surrounded by a number of supporters and security personnel as he was spotted making his way to his car outside the airport premises.

Under Babar Azam, the Pakistan team launched its World Cup 2023 crusade in India with emphatic wins over Netherlands and Sri Lanka at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. However, the ‘Men in Green’ slumped to five demoralizing defeats, including four in succession, in their seven subsequent fixtures to get crashed out of the semi-finals race.

Apart from losing out to Australia, hosts India and defending champions England; Pakistan also endured a crushing defeat to Afghanistan during a crucial stage of the tournament.

Captain Babar himself failed to lead from the front, as the batting maverick managed to tally only 320 runs across nine matches at a below-par average of 40. The team’s recent string of defeats and resultant exit from the 2023 World Cup semi-final reckoning sparked a nationwide outrage, with many cricket enthusiasts, experts and former cricketers calling for the ouster of Babar Azam from captaincy.

Nonetheless, the ‘Men in Green’ bunch will soon be taking flight to Australia for a three-Test challenge, schedule to commence from December 14 at the Perth Stadium.

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