When Was The Last Time Babar Azam Scored A Fifty In Test Cricket?

Babar Azam has been in abysmal form in Test cricket (Twitter)Babar Azam has been in abysmal form in Test cricket (Twitter)

Babar Azam's lean patch with the bat continues to haunt him, as he departed for a silver duck in the very first session of the opening Test against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on Wednesday.

It was the 8th over when Shoriful Islam delivered a back-of-a-length ball outside the leg stump. Babar, in his trademark trigger movement, tried to guide the ball but only managed a faint edge.

Litton Das, displaying exceptional reflexes and athleticism, dived full-length to his right to take a stunning one-handed catch, sending Babar back to the pavillion.

This Babar Azam wicket only added to his ongoing struggle in Test cricket. The former Pakistan Test captain has been under the pump, with his last half-century in the format dating back almost two years.

His last notable performance came in the Boxing Day Test against New Zealand in December 2022, where he played a captain's knock of 161 off 280 balls in the first innings.

What Happened In The Boxing Day Test?

Thanks to his effort, along with Agha Salman's century, Pakistan posted a formidable 438. New Zealand responded with 612/9, led by Kane Williamson's double century and Tom Latham's hundred.

In Pakistan’s second innings, Babar Azam was dismissed for 14 as his team reached 311/8. The match eventually ended in a draw, with New Zealand finishing at 61/1.

Since that innings, the runs have dried up for Babar Azam in Test cricket. Over his next 11 innings across six Tests, he has consistently failed to cross the fifty-run mark.


In the second Test against New Zealand, Babar managed scores of 24 and 27, with the match ending in yet another draw.

The drought continued in July 2023 during Pakistan's series against Sri Lanka. Babar could only muster scores of 13 and 24 in the first Test, followed by 39 in the second. Despite Pakistan winning both matches, Babar's form remained a cause for concern.

The nightmare worsened when Pakistan toured Australia for a three-match Test series. Babar's contributions were dismal, scoring 21 and 14 in the first Test, 9 and 41 in the second, and 26 and 23 in the third, as Australia handed Pakistan a humiliating 3-0 whitewash.

With the pressure mounting, Babar's recent dismissal against Bangladesh has only added fuel to the fire. As questions about Babar Azam’s form loom large, all eyes will be on whether the Pakistan batting mainstay can bounce back in the second innings and silence his critics, or if the drought will continue.