Pakistan’s two-match Test series against the West Indies got off to a turbulent start on January 17, 2025, as the team faced an early collapse. Key wickets fell quickly, with opener Muhammad Hurraira, talisman Babar Azam, and Kamran Ghulam all dismissed within the first 14 overs. Jayden Seales played a central role in this collapse, dismissing three Pakistani batsmen, including the much-discussed Babar Azam.
Babar’s dismissal came in the 14th over for a mere 8 runs off 20 balls, marking a continuation of his recent struggles in Test cricket. What caught fans’ attention, however, was his decision to review the dismissal despite a clear spike on UltraEdge, which showed a substantial nick off the bat. This review, though, was unsuccessful, resulting in Pakistan losing one of their precious reviews.
This dismissal added to Babar Azam’s ongoing slump in form. Having previously broken a long drought with a few half-centuries against South Africa, he had not reached a Test century since December 2022. His recent performances, with averages of 22.66 in 2023 and 20.20 in 2024, have been far from his peak. Babar’s decline in form has been stark compared to his 2022 performance, where he scored 1184 runs with four centuries at an impressive average of 69.64.
Pakistan’s collapse was later stabilized by Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel, who fought to rebuild the innings on a challenging Multan wicket.