WATCH: Babar Azam halts Mohammad Rizwan from celebrating a wicket during ODI World Cup clash against England

The disappointment was quite visible for Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam as his team faced elimination from the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023. The moment England’s Jos Buttler won the toss and chose to bat first in the 44th match of the tournament on November 11, the fate of the Men in Green seemed sealed.

Meanwhile, a video is getting viral on social media in which Babar’s frustration can be seen reaching a visible peak when he interrupted Mohammad Rizwan’s celebratory moment with Shaheen Afridi after a wicket fell. In a display of displeasure, Babar struck Rizwan’s hand, disrupting the shared joy between the teammates. The tense on-field incident adds fuel to the rumours, hinting at underlying tensions within the team that extend beyond the cricketing arena.

Watch the video here:

Amidst Pakistan’s World Cup exit, speculations have emerged regarding potential discord between Babar and Afridi. There are indications that Afridi might replace Babar as Pakistan’s captain in white-ball formats following the conclusion of the global tournament. 

Brilliant batting performance by England

Talking about the match, after opting to bat first, England received contributions from every top-six batters, with openers Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow providing a solid foundation. Joe Root and Ben Stokes capitalized on the platform, and Harry Brook and Jos Buttler played valuable cameos. Stokes, in particular, showcased brilliance with an impressive knock of 84 runs, featuring 11 fours and 2 sixes.

Pakistan’s pacers managed to get reverse-swing towards the end, yet England added nearly 100 runs in the last 10 overs, capitalizing on their wickets in hand. A few dropped catches, including an early reprieve for Stokes, provided England with crucial opportunities. Haris Rauf emerged as Pakistan’s most successful bowler, securing 3 wickets while conceding 64 runs in his 10 overs.

Pakistan were asked to chase down 337 runs in 6.4 overs, a feat that seemed insurmountable. As the chase unfolded, Pakistan found themselves at 135/5 after 29 overs, signalling their official exit from the tournament.