Watch: Pakistan captain Babar Azam was heckled by a journalist as he finished his press conference following the conclusion of the first New Zealand Test.
The journalist, widely reported to be ARY News’ Shoaib Jatt, was unhappy at being passed over after attempting to ask a question.
Babar has come under much scrutiny following Pakistan’s struggles in Test cricket, with his side failing to secure a home win throughout 2022. Babar went all out to try and secure victory against New Zealand, boldly declaring late on the final day, with bad light eventually halting the Black Caps’ chase.
With Ramiz Raja removed as PCB chair and Shahid Afridi temporarily in charge of selection, the pressure on Babar has heightened. He confirmed pre-Test that Afridi would have an input in picking the XI, with Mohammad Rizwan’s exclusion and Sarfaraz Ahmed’s call-up after a near four-year absence the result.
Jatt, who has been highly critical of Babar during his stint as Pakistan captain, could be heard saying, “I am gesturing to ask a question and you are not listening,” before being cut off.
Earlier in the Test, Jatt received criticism for the nature of his questions to Nauman Ali. He questioned Nauman’s leaking of runs, with the slow left-armer responding, “If you bowl half of the team’s overs then you will concede runs.”
He claimed 3-185 in New Zealand’s first innings, the most economical of Pakistan’s bowlers aside from Babar, who bowled four overs.
Watch the end to Babar’s presser below:
Angry Shoaib Jatt at the End of Press Conference. pic.twitter.com/2suSigP6Jb
— Taimoor Zaman (@taimoorze) December 30, 2022
Watch the Nauman-Jatt exchange below:
️ “If you bowl half of the team’s overs then you will concede runs.”
Nauman Ali responds to a question about the volume of runs conceded.#PAKvNZ pic.twitter.com/iFYhXuHlzc
— Grassroots Cricket (@grassrootscric) December 28, 2022
