Hilarious scenes unfolded during a DRS review involving Babar Azam in the first T20I between Pakistan and Australia in Lahore. A momentary error by TV referee Nasir Hussain led to an incorrect broadcast, which left commentators divided and quickly attracted widespread attention from fans watching the match.
Pakistan defeated Australia by 22 runs in the first T20I at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Thursday, January 29. The Salman Ali Agha-led team took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. While the hosts secured the win, Babar had a disappointing outing with the bat, scoring 24 runs from 20 deliveries.
DRS confusion after Zampa catches Babar Azam in the first T20I
Adam Zampa hit Babar Azam on the pad while attempting a reverse sweep in the 14th over. With referee Ahsan Raza unconvinced on the field, Australia sent the decision upstairs.
Ball tracking showed that the delivery was thrown outside the stump, hit the line and would then hit the stumps. However, third umpire Nasir Hussain incorrectly said that the ball had been thrown outside the leg, probably due to confusion caused by Babar’s stance.
The situation became more difficult when officials were reminded that Babar is right-handed, prompting further checks. By then, Babar had already begun to walk away, surprised by the delay and uncertainty during the assessment.
Just listen to Pakistan’s third umpire
The Australian team is like -Kin gawaro or referee bna diya
pic.twitter.com/uS3CqfpBeR— Space Recorder (@1spacerecorder) January 30, 2026
The third referee’s mixed signals cause confusion among the officials
Third umpire Nasir Hussain was corrected by another umpire and asked to show ball tracking again. Even after watching it a second time, he made another mistake by telling the on-field referee to stick to the original ‘not out’ decision.
Moments later, Hussain realized the mistake and changed his call, but the mixed messages left referee Ahsan Raza visibly confused on the field. He made several signals before finally arriving at the right decision.
The long delay and repeated mistakes amused both the commentators and the players. A simple LBW call turned into a viral moment, with fans sharing the clip widely and responding to the chaotic review thread on social media.
Babar Azam’s T20 form under scanner ahead of 2026 World Cup
Babar Azam’s T20 form continues to grab attention, with questions growing over his place in Pakistan’s plans for the 2026 T20 World Cup. Fans and former players have discussed his recent struggles in the shortest format.
In the match against Australia, Babar failed with the bat but made a strong contribution in the field. He took three sharp catches during the chase and helped Pakistan put pressure on the visitors.
The Pakistani bowlers then did the rest, defending the target well and completing a 22-run win. While the result shifted some attention, Babar’s batting form remained under scrutiny.
In the 2025–26 Big Bash League, he scored 202 runs in 11 matches at an average of 22 and a strike rate of 103, with just two half-centuries. With modern T20 cricket demanding quick scores, many are now wondering whether Babar can adapt his approach in time to answer his critics.
Also read: Babar Azam buried by Salman Ali Agha: ‘I will bat at number 3 because I can dominate’
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