Pakistani Fans Cheer Their Own Captain’s Dismissal to See Babar Azam Bat

During the first Test against South Africa at Gaddafi Stadium, Pakistani fans displayed unexpected behavior by cheering when their captain, Shan Masood, was dismissed. Masood had scored a solid 76 in a 161-run partnership, but his exit meant the arrival of fan-favourite Babar Azam, prompting applause from the crowd. The reaction left South African commentator Shaun Pollock astonished, noting that such support for a replacement rather than the captain was unusual.

Masood was given out leg before wicket to Prenelan Subrayan in the second session. When Masood challenged the decision via DRS, the crowd erupted again as the original ruling was upheld. Babar Azam walked in to bat to a warm reception but managed only 23 runs before falling shortly after tea.

The Pakistan Cricket Board had offered free entry to attract more spectators, yet several enclosures remained sparsely filled, although a sizeable crowd was present. On day one, Pakistan posted 313-5, with contributions from Imam-ul-Haq (93) and Masood (76). Later, spinners Senuran Muthusamy and Simon Harmer triggered a collapse, but Rizwan and Salman Agha steadied the innings with an unbeaten 114-run partnership.

The crowd’s behavior highlighted the fan culture in Pakistan, where the excitement for star players sometimes outweighs support for the team captain. For cricket fans in Tier 2 cities following international matches, this incident underscores how fan enthusiasm can shape the atmosphere in the stadium and on social media.

In conclusion, the Gaddafi Stadium episode reflected both the passion and unpredictability of cricket fandom in Pakistan, providing a moment that will be remembered not for the cricket alone, but for the unique crowd dynamics that unfolded.