Pakistan batter Babar Azam found himself at the centre of social media attention after sharing a warm moment with an Indian fan following a Big Bash League match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
After the Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Sixers game, Babar spent time near the boundary signing autographs and interacting with supporters.
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During the exchange, an Indian girl wearing a Team India jersey approached him with a poster and requested a selfie along with an autograph.
Babar happily agreed, posing for the photo and signing the autograph.
The brief interaction was captured on video and quickly spread across social media platforms, drawing widespread appreciation from fans.
Many have praised Babar’s calm and respectful attitude, noting that despite intense India-Pakistan rivalries on the field and political tensions, his popularity continues to cross borders.
On the cricketing front, Sydney Sixers defeated Melbourne Stars by six wickets, although Babar did not have a standout outing with the bat.
READ: Babar Azam tops global run charts across formats this decade
He was dismissed in the seventh over when Stars captain Marcus Stoinis bowled a full delivery that came back in sharply and struck Babar in front of the stumps.
Stoinis celebrated the dismissal aggressively and was heard saying: “See you later Babar! See you later, brother!”
The umpire raised his finger after a loud appeal, and Babar, visibly disappointed with his shot selection, briefly spoke with batting partner Josh Philippe before deciding against a review.
Babar returned to the pavilion after scoring 14 runs off 17 balls, including one boundary.
The right-hander has had a quiet tournament so far for the Sixers.
In seven innings, he has scored 145 runs at an average of 24.16 and a strike rate of 108.20, with two half-centuries to his name.
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Despite Babar’s modest contribution, the Sixers had enough depth to secure the win, with Ben Dwarshuis claiming four wickets and Josh Philippe playing a steady knock of 35 during the chase.
