Babar Azam was not a part of Pakistan’s T20 team for the last one year, he was not even in the Asia Cup. He got a chance in the T20 series against South Africa, he returned to this format after a year but he flopped miserably in the first match. He ducked out after playing 2 balls.

Batting first, South Africa gave Pakistan a target of 195. Pakistan’s openers Sahibzada Farhan and Sam Ayub made a partnership of 31 runs for the first wicket. Sahibzada (24) was bowled by Lizad Williams in the fifth over. After this Babar Azam came, Pakistan expected that the experienced batsman, who was returning to T20 after a year, would play important innings, but it did not happen.

Babar Azam out on zero

Babar Azam was caught out on the third ball of the last over of the powerplay. Corbin Bosch got him caught out by Reza Hendricks. While today he had a chance to create history, Babar needs only 9 more runs to become the highest run-scorer in T20, behind only Rohit Sharma in the list.

BABAR AZAM DISMISSED FOR DUCK ON HIS COMEBACK..!! pic.twitter.com/xDvwdN9ObL

— junaiz (@dhillow_) October 28, 2025

Contribution Of Babar Azam On His Come Back.

-Missed Run Out
-Dropped easy catch
-Wasted Two Balls pic.twitter.com/698g7Qadde

— SheR•ALI (@Sher__Ali) October 28, 2025

Disappointed in fielding also

Babar Azam also disappointed his fans with his fielding during South Africa’s batting. On the fourth ball of the 17th over bowled by Shaheen Shah Afridi, Linde hit a shot in front, the ball was in the air and Babar Azam standing in front could have taken an easy catch but he missed the catch. Captain Salman Ali Aga also looked very angry on this.

Easy catch drop Babar Azam #PakistanCricket #PAKvSA #BabarAzam pic.twitter.com/BfvaRf4kqX

— Hafiz Ali Ahmed (@HafizAl73906426) October 28, 2025

Batting first, South Africa scored 194 runs losing 9 wickets in 20 overs. Opener Reza Hendricks had scored 60 runs in 40 balls with the help of 1 six and 5 fours. Quinton de Kock scored 23 runs in 13 balls and Tony De Jorji scored 33 runs in 16 balls. In the end, George Linde played an important inning of 36 runs in 22 balls. Mohammad Nawaz took the most wickets for Pakistan, he took 3 wickets. Sam Ayub got 2 wickets. Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah and Abrar Ahmed got 1 wicket each.

The first T20 is being played between Pakistan and South Africa in Rawalpindi, Babar Azam has returned to the Pakistan team. Before the T20 World Cup 2026, this is a big sign that Babar is being seen in the team for the next World Cup, while the PCB has sidelined Mohammad Rizwan. A few days ago, he was removed from the ODI captaincy by the PCB because he refused to promote the betting app.

Babar Azam had earlier played his last T20 against South Africa on December 13, 2024 at SuperSport Park. Today he is playing his first T20 after 11 months, meanwhile PCB had dropped him from the T20 squad. He also did not play in Asia Cup 2025, where Pakistan reached the final. India had defeated Pakistan in the final.

Babar Azam close to breaking Rohit Sharma’s record

In the first T20 being played at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Aga won the toss and chose to bowl first. In this match, Babar Azam can break a big record of Rohit Sharma.

The highest run scorer in T20 International cricket is Rohit Sharma, he has scored 4231 runs in 151 innings. This includes 5 centuries and 32 half-century innings. Babar Azam is just 8 runs away from Rohit, he will break Rohit’s record by scoring 9 runs and will come first in this list. Babar has scored 4223 runs in 121 innings, which includes 3 centuries and 36 half-centuries.

Pakistan’s playing 11

Sam Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Babar Azam, Salman Ali Aga (captain), Usman Khan (wicket keeper), Hassan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed.

South Africa’s playing 11

Reza Hendricks, Quinton de Kock (wk), Tony De Jorzi, Dewald Brewis, Matthew Bretzke, Donoval Ferreira (c), George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Lizaad Williams, Nandre Berger, Lungi Ngidi.