Champions Trophy 2025: Ashwin takes hilarious ‘tortoise’ dig at Babar Azam’s innings against New Zealand
The Hindu
Ashwin criticizes Babar Azam's slow fifty as Pakistan suffers defeat against New Zealand in Champions Trophy opener.
Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took a subtle dig at Pakistan's premier batter, Babar Azam, for his slow-paced fifty against New Zealand in the Champions Trophy opener on Wednesday (February 19, 2025) in Karachi.
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In pursuit of a daunting 321-run chase, Pakistan were in a dire situation at 69/3 after losing Saud Shakeel, skipper Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman.
Pakistan needed something significant and swift from its top star, Babar. However, to everyone's surprise, the 31-year-old's sluggish display took the defending champions away from the required target.
While Babar scored runs at his leisure, vice-captain Salman Ali Agha raised the bar with his belligerent strokeplay. He went from strength to strength to give Pakistan a glimmer of hope, which eventually faded away.
Ashwin took a dig at Babar's contribution during his 58-run partnership with Salman by comparing it to the "Tortoise and Rabbit story."
“Babar’s journey to 50 coupled with Salman Ali Agha’s batting has to be the best depiction of ‘The Tortoise and Rabbit story’. ChampionsTrophy,” he wrote on X.
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Ashwin criticizes Babar Azam's slow fifty as Pakistan suffers defeat against New Zealand in Champions Trophy opener.
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