Pakistan batter Babar Azam is being mocked by his teammate Shaheen Afridi in the ongoing PAK vs ENG 1st Test. Reports suggest that a viral video surfaced on social media featuring pacer Shaheen Afridi using the term “Zimbu” multiple times. Although the video lacked audio, fans speculated that Shaheen may have been mocking his teammate.
Fans have branded Babar with the nickname “Zimbabar” or simply “Zimbu,” often accusing him of only scoring against weaker teams. This mocking has seemingly permeated the Pakistan team dressing room.
Rising tensions between Babar and Shaheen
Recently, Shaheen Afridi lost his captaincy before the T20 World Cup 2024, with Babar regaining the role. Following Pakistan’s disappointing early exit from the tournament and Babar’s resignation from white-ball captaincy, rumours of discord between Babar and Shaheen have surfaced. The Pakistan Cricket Board has yet to announce Babar’s replacement as captain.
Struggle for Babar continues
Babar is struggling with his form, particularly in Test cricket. His last good score came in December 2022, when he made 161 against New Zealand in Karachi. Since then, Babar has failed to secure a triple-digit score in the longest format of the game. In the ongoing first Test against England, his search for runs continued, with scores of 30 and 5 in the first and second innings. Babar missed the chance to take advantage of what fans and experts labelled a “batting paradise.”
Pakistan struggles against England
Meanwhile, Pakistan faces the possibility of another Test defeat, with England showing a strong grip on the series opener in Multan. With a powerful 267-run lead from the first innings, England triggered a collapse, leaving Pakistan at 152-6. As the match stands, Pakistan still requires 115 runs to avoid an inning defeat on the final day, which is set for Friday. Earlier, Harry Brook and Joe Root made important contributions, scoring 317 and a record-setting 262, respectively, in England’s massive total of 823-7 declared.
