Dubai, UAE – Web Desk: Pakistan secured a narrow 3-wicket victory over the Netherlands in the opening match of the T20 World Cup, but senior batsman Babar Azam faced intense criticism for a poor performance in the middle order.
Chasing 148 runs, Pakistan struggled despite a solid start. Key players including Babar Azam, Usman Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, and Shadab Khan failed to make significant contributions, with Babar scoring 15 runs off 18 balls. The team’s win was ultimately steered by Fahim Ashraf, who scored 29 runs off 11 balls in a match-winning cameo.
Following the match, social media critics and cricket analysts targeted Babar Azam, with some demanding that captain Salman Agha drop him, while others called for his retirement. The disappointing middle-order display raised concerns over Pakistan’s consistency in the tournament.
