Babar Azam the Tiger

 

“196 runs off 425 balls are just numbers that can't justify the resolve, guts and technical efficiencies Babar displayed for two days amid the hot and humid conditions at Karachi. Numbers cannot judge a Tiger – numbers cannot measure the sacrifice during the battle between bat and ball, numbers become irrelevant in front of a leader. Babar’s epic vigil is not just all about numbers, rather, it’s a tribute o the warriors, who rise above the rest and let everyone know, the Baburs still exist” 

 

The word Babar – also variously spelt either as Babur, Baboor or Baber – is of Persian origin that means Tiger and it suited the founder of the Mughal Empire – Zahir ud-Din Muhammad Babur apt and appropriately. The great Mughal Samrat ruled the subcontinent with an iron fist and his courage and leadership qualities left a long-lasting legacy in this subcontinent that parents in the Muslim community mostly prefers the name Babar for their male child because they want their son to be like the Mughal Tiger.

The Mughal Tiger was the epitome of bravery and obviously, if someone dons the name of the great Leader then he has to show respect to the boldness that Zahir Ud-Din displayed throughout his lifetime.

It is not sure whether the Pakistani skipper Babar Azam was thinking of Zahir Ud-Din Muhmmad Babur when he came out to bat in a very critical situation for Pakistan.

For a while, Pakistan have not been the side to rule the roost in the fourth innings. They have been a much better outfit while batting first: score runs and leave the rest for their dynamic bowlers and spinners. They have delivered and if the challenge of surviving in the fourth innings appeared, Pakistan, most of the time, discovered themselves at the receiving end – either they choked or failed to survive, even at their own backyard.

Thus, for the Pakistan skipper – Babar – an uphill task was on the cards – not only to shut the mouth of the critics but prove his worth as one of the best batters at present.

Back in India and Pakistan – the rivalry never stops.

For a Sunil Gavaskar Pakistan had Javed Miandad, For Imran Khan India had Kapil Dev, For Sachin Tendulkar, Pakistan backed Saeed Anwar and Inzamam-ul-Haq while Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, India backed Javgal Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad.

Well, the fanboys from both countries have not taken a rest till today and for a Virat Kohli they were in need of a rival and none could be better than Babar Azam. The Pakistani fans and media-hyped with Babar – but apart from flashes in patches in the limited-overs, Babar never really challenged Virat I the longer formats whereas in the limited-overs, Virat’s supremacy remains supreme and as a skipper – Virat has proved that he was an absolute beast.

To reach that class of Virat – Babar was needed to exhibit more intent – intent as a batsman ad leader.

Mind you, before coming out to bat in the fourth innings, Babar had been without a hundred in Test matches for around 767 days, his average in the fourth innings as a batter is above 20 while essaying big hundreds and staying for a longer time at the crease has been never been his style.

Well, it was time to smash records – it was time to prove that he is really a top-class batter in 5-day formats, it was time to pay tribute to the great Mughal Tiger and the legendary fighters who glorified Karachi cricket.

On a wicket, that was showing uneven bounce and aiding the spinners and fast bowlers for reverse-swing, Babar decided to grow roots underneath and play the ball according to the merit – at the start of his epic vigil, he looked a bit nervous, but as soon he started to middle the ball, the nervousness was taken over by confidence and patience, that grew with each delivery and each session.

Babr was bringing the bat down straight and from a technical point of view, his defence was immaculate – even a fly cannot pass through the bat and pad. 

Babar's head was on the offstump at ball release, aligned to bowler’s stumps, hands close to the body, under the head and tracked early flight.

There were lucky escapes, but it was one of those moments where all the planets have aligned together and every piece have fallen on the right places – of course, fortune favours the brave.

Babar kept on going – marshalling his partners and frustrating the Australian fielders and bowlers, who hardly dropped their shoulders under the hot sun of Karachi.

The Australians tested Babar by setting up an attacking field against the spinners –as if vultures were waiting for the prey and peppered him with shorter stuff and high-quality pace and reverse swing bowling.

Still, Babar stood like a warrior and gave the impression, as long as he would be around, the fortress Karachi could not be breached by any means.

196 runs off 425 balls are just numbers that can't justify the resolve, guts and technical efficiencies Babar displayed for two days amid the hot and humid conditions at Karachi. Numbers cannot judge a Tiger – numbers cannot measure the sacrifice during the battle between bat and ball, numbers become irrelevant in front of a leader. Babar’s epic vigil is not just all about numbers, rather, it’s a tribute o the warriors, who rise above the rest and let everyone know, the Baburs still exist.  

 Note: This article has been published at Cricketsoccer on 16/03/2021  Babar Azam the Tiger

Thank You

Faisal Caesar