Cricket
PAK vs NZ 1st Test: Babar Azam's men lost 3 early wickets against New Zealand, thus prompting jokes of Pakistan trying to play England's 'Bazball'.
Updated : Dec 26, 2022, 03:24 PM IST | Edited by : Amrit Santlani
England's Test team has been completely revolutionised since Brandon McCullum took over as the Three Lions' Test coach, and Ben Stokes was handed the team's captaincy. Their 'Bazball' approach helped the English side clean sweep Babar Azam's Pakistan on their home turf.
Looking to bounce back from that setback, the Men in Green welcome New Zealand to Pakistan as they tried to keep alive their hopes of reaching the final of the World Test Championship (WTC). However, Pakistan ended up losing three early wickets in the first session of Day 1 itself.
While opener Abdullah Shafique was dismissed by Ajaz Patel after the former scored just 7 runs, his fellow opener Imam-Ul-Haq added 24 runs to the cause, before perishing at 24. Shan Masood also had a forgettable outing as he could only score 3 runs before falling prey to Bracewell.
The skipper Babar himself smashed a fifty to help steady the ship, as he combined well with former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, who was playing his first Test for a while, in place of Mohammed Rizwan. The pair of Babar and Sarfaraz helped Pakistan reach 115/4 at Lunch after they were reeling at 48/3.
Earlier, similar struggles ensured that the hosts couldn't keep up with England who ran riot with their 'Bazball' approach, and after Pakistan lost their three wickets early, fans mocked Babar's side, joking that they tried to play 'Bazball' but failed to do so.
Check how fans reacted:
Bazball or BiteBall?
— Dennis Kaptaan (@DennisCricket_) December 26, 2022
Which works best in Pakistan? pic.twitter.com/JTHQHgcpJe
144p version of bazball pure embarrassment i would say. pic.twitter.com/mqKO6OX57d
— momina (@theobsessedbear) December 26, 2022
'We are watching a 144p version of BazBall from Pakistan' - Cricbuzz taking a dig at Boom Boom Ball #PAKvNZ
— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) December 26, 2022
We are watching a 144p Version of Bazball!! Brutal. #PakvsNZ pic.twitter.com/TmN6XiqEmz
— Abhishek Singh (@Abhishek291003) December 26, 2022
Oh, batters trying 'Bazball' or "Saqball" and getting out.
— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) December 26, 2022
Play your game.
Pakistan v NZ.
Pakistan trying to play Bazball pic.twitter.com/iQW1SJWhjJ
— Rafe (@raffay_javed) December 26, 2022
First time in the history of cricket, 2 stumpings before the 7th over on the 1st session of a test match.
— Rainy Gavaskar (@Who2Boycott) December 26, 2022
BazBall gone wrong
Afridi soon to be replaced #PakvsNZ pic.twitter.com/XsUEW0INIk
After a shaky start, Babar smashed a fifty, reaching a total of 54, at the time of Lunch, while Sarfaraz was batting at 4. Saud Shakeel also added 22 runs to the cause, as Pakistan looked to reach a fightworthy total against Tim Southee's men.