‘Kin gan…. ko umpire bana diya’: Pakistan 3rd umpire’s English during Babar Azam LBW review is leaving people in splits. Watch
The third referee became the star of the match
The laughter started when Babar Azam was dealt LBW from Adam Zampa. Babar tried a backhand shot but missed and the ball hit his pads. He preferred DRS and sent the decision to the third referee.
Fans immediately noticed that the referee had difficulty communicating in English when explaining the review. Social media has been flooded with clips, memes and jokes; viewers made fun of his strange expressions. Many described it as a moment where “the fans burst into laughter” and the third referee quickly became the unwanted star of the match.
Pakistan posted competitive total
Pakistan elected to bat after winning the toss and posted 168 for 8. The innings started on a shaky note with Sahibzada Farhan being dismissed for a duck in the first ball.
Skipper Salman Agha and Saim Ayub anchored the innings with a partnership of 74 runs in 45 balls. Ayub scored 40 off 22 balls, including two sixes and three fours, while Salman scored 39 off 27 balls, including five boundaries. Babar Azam contributed 24 runs before being dismissed LBW and Fakhar Zaman provided stability with a 37-run stand alongside Babar. Usman Khan added 18 runs, helping Pakistan achieve a defensible total.
Adam Zampa was Australia’s standout bowler, taking four wickets for 24 runs. Xavier Bartlett and Mahli Beardman took two wickets each.
Australia fall short despite late fightback
Australia struggled in their chase, losing both openers for 28 runs. Matthew Short scored 5 and skipper Travis Head scored 23 off 13 balls with two sixes and two fours. Cameron Green and Matt Renshaw tried to rebuild with a 40-run partnership, but wickets fell at regular intervals. The stand at the end of the 34th over between Xavier Bartlett (34) and Adam Zampa (5) for the eighth wicket added some dignity, but Australia could only manage 146 for 8 and fell 22 runs behind.
Pakistan’s bowlers shared the workload effectively. Saim Ayub and Abrar Ahmed took two wickets each, while Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz took one wicket each.
Ayub, who made significant contributions in both batting and bowling, was selected as the ‘Player of the Match’. While Pakistan celebrated their win, the fans celebrated another highlight: the third umpire’s hilarious English during Babar’s DRS, proving that cricket can deliver drama and laughter in equal measure. Babar Azam LBW review.
