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Babar Azam Still 'Kaptaan' In Rizwan's Eyes As Stump-Mic Slip Exposes Pakistan

Akshita Patel

Babar Azam referred to as captain by Mohammad Rizwan [Source: @imuzammalshah/X.com]Babar Azam referred to as captain by Mohammad Rizwan [Source: @imuzammalshah/X.com]

Babar Azam may have stepped down as Pakistan’s captain after the 2023 World Cup. But a light-hearted moment during the first ODI against the West Indies showed that, in the eyes of his teammates, especially Mohammad Rizwan, he’s still very much a leader. 

On August 8 in Tarouba, Pakistan began their three-match ODI series with a confident five-wicket win. Debutant Hasan Nawaz starred with an unbeaten 63, guiding the chase of 281 runs alongside Hussain Talat. 

The duo’s steady partnership helped Pakistan recover from a mid-innings stumble and seal victory with seven balls to spare to take 1-0 lead in the series.

Mohammad Rizwan Accidentally Refers To Babar Azam As ‘Captain’

But while the win was impressive, it was a brief exchange on the field that stole the internet’s attention. In the eighth over of the West Indies innings, Keacy Carty drove a ball through the covers. 

Fielding inside the ring, Babar Azam dived to his right to stop the ball. From behind the stumps came a sharp shout: “Kaptaana”, from none other than Mohammad Rizwan, Pakistan’s current ODI captain. 

The irony was priceless. Fans immediately caught the moment on camera, and the clip went viral online. For many, it was a hint of the respect Babar still commands within the team. 

After all, he had captained Pakistan for several years, leading them to memorable wins before stepping aside from leadership duties due to constant backlash. For a while now, Rizwan and Babar have shared a great bond, and the mutual respect was proven with his candid interaction.

Babar Misses Fifty By 3 Runs In First ODI

That being said, Babar Azam also proved his worth with the bat in this game. Chasing 281, he scored a steady 47 off 64 balls, playing his trademark drives and flicks to anchor the innings. 

His partnership with Abdullah Shafique and Rizwan steadied the ship after the early loss of Saim Ayub. Though he fell in the 24th over, his knock laid the foundation for Hasan Nawaz’s heroics. The second ODI will be held on August 10 at the Brian Lara Stadium at 7:00 PM IST.