[Watch] 'Babar Babar' Chants Envelope Chennai As Crowd 'Go Gaga' For Pakistan Captain
Babar Azam entertained a lively Chennai crowd with 74 runs at the 2023 World Cup (AP)
Pakistan captain Babar Azam was welcomed into the crease with a thunderous applause by Chepauk crowd at the 2023 World Cup. The cricketer made his way to the middle against Afghanistan following the conclusion of the opening powerplay, and ended up top-scoring for his side with 74.
‘Babar Babar’ chants reverberate Chepauk Stadium
Underfire Pakistan captain Babar Azam, desperate for some World Cup 2023 runs, produced 74 of them in his side’s must-win match against Afghanistan on a turning Chennai surface. As it turned out, his scintillating innings did not prove enough as Pakistan ended up losing the contest by eight wickets and an over to spare in a thrilling run-chase by an insurgent Afghan unit.
Regardless of the outcome, fans at Chepauk Stadium were surely graced by Babar Azam’s elegant stroke-play in the first half of the game. A number of fans even stood up and welcomed the Pakistani captain with a thunderous applause when he was making his way to the crease, signifying his immense fanbase in the city.
Watch: Babar Azam’s fan craze in Chennai
Surprisingly, just over a week ago at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, Babar Azam was booed by the crowd when his side took on tournament hosts India.
Nonetheless, Pakistan’s shock defeat to Afghanistan means that the ‘Men in Green’ now needs to win all their remaining World Cup 2023 matches in order to entertain their chances of a top four finish.
Babar Azam and co., having set their base in Chennai a couple of days ago, will stay back in the city as they are slated to face a marauding bunch of South Africans at the same venue next up. Their much-awaited clash will be played out on October 27.
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