PAK vs AFG: Babar Azam loses cool, engages in heated argument with Nabi after dramatic 2nd ODI finish

The second One Day International (ODI) match between Afghanistan and Pakistan, held in Hambantota on August 24, 2023, was a thrilling encounter that ended with a heated exchange between Pakistan's captain Babar Azam and Afghanistan's all-rounder Mohammad Nabi. The tension escalated after Pakistan's victory, which came after a dramatic final over as the Asian giants successfully chased 301 with a wicket and a delivery to spare.

The controversy began when Shadab Khan, Pakistan's vice-captain, was run out in a desperate bid to take back the strike from No. 10 Naseem Shah. Fazalhaq Farooqi, noticing Shadab leaving the crease, swiftly took the bails off at the non-striker's end. This dismissal sparked a debate as it is often considered against the spirit of the game, despite being within the laws. Shadab's crucial knock of 48 runs off 35 balls had brought Pakistan to the brink of victory, making his dismissal a turning point in the match.

Despite this setback, Pakistan managed to clinch the win, thanks to Naseem Shah's heroics. The young seamer hit two boundaries in the final over, finishing the game with



a ball to spare. This narrow victory gave Pakistan an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

However, the post-match scenario was marred by a heated argument between Babar Azam and Mohammad Nabi. A clip of the incident went viral, showing Naseem Shah whispering something to Babar about Nabi, which led to the Pakistan captain losing his cool. The exact details of their conversation remain unknown, but the incident added another layer of intensity to the already thrilling match and the growing rivalry between the two teams.

On the other hand, Afghanistan put up a commendable performance, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran laying a solid foundation. The duo put on a brilliant opening wicket stand of 227 runs, with Gurbaz scoring a magnificent 151 off as many balls. Their efforts powered Afghanistan to a challenging total of 300 for five in 50 overs.

Pakistan will look to seal a 3-0 lead when they take on Afghanistan in the final ODI on Saturday, August 26. A win in the series finale will also help Pakistan to become the No. 1 ODI team before the Asia Cup.