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Shan Masood of Pakistan bats (Photo by Sameer Ali/Getty Images)
Pakistani cricket fans astatine Gaddafi Stadium displayed antithetic behaviour during time 1 of the archetypal Test against South Africa connected Sunday, cheering the dismissal of their ain skipper Shan Masood due to the fact that it meant fan-favourite Babar Azam would beryllium adjacent astatine the crease.
Masood scored 76 runs successful a 161-run 2nd wicket concern with Imam ul Haq, who made 93. The skipper was fixed retired limb earlier wicket to Prenelan Subrayan successful the 2nd session.When Masood opted for a DRS review, the assemblage amazingly cheered arsenic the large surface confirmed the umpire's archetypal decision, sending him backmost to the pavilion.The stadium erupted successful applause arsenic erstwhile skipper Babar Azam walked successful to bat, though helium would lone negociate 23 runs earlier falling soon aft tea."Someone needs to punctual the assemblage you don't bash this with your captain," remarked South African commentator Shaun Pollock, expressing his amazement astatine the crowd's reaction.Click present to ticker the viral video of Pakistan crowd's reactionThe Pakistan Cricket Board had offered escaped introduction to respective enclosures to pull much spectators to the match.Despite the escaped introduction initiative, astir of the enclosures remained empty, though determination was a sizeable assemblage contiguous successful the stadium.
Pakistan posted 313-5 connected time 1 of the archetypal Test against South Africa successful Lahore, led by Imam-ul-Haq’s superb 93 and Shan Masood’s 76. After a beardown 161-run stand, Pakistan slumped from 163-1 to 199-5 arsenic spinners Senuran Muthusamy and Simon Harmer triggered a collapse. Mohammad Rizwan (62 not out) and Salman Agha (52 not out) past steadied the innings with an unbroken 114-run concern connected a spin-friendly pitch. Haq, returning to Test cricket aft 2023, said Pakistan aimed to surpass 400. South Africa’s bowlers fought backmost but missed cardinal chances, with Harmer expecting much rotation connected time 2 of the World Test Championship fixture.
