Thanks to debutant Hasan Nawaz's undefeated 63 and his game-changing partnership with Hussain Talat, Pakistan secured a calm five-wicket victory in Tarouba on Friday to start their 3-match ODI series against the West Indies with bang. The visitors, who were chasing 281, overcame a stutter in the middle of the innings to triumph with seven balls remaining and take a 1-0 series lead.
However, the game also included a moment featuring two individuals who have both donned Pakistan's captain's armband. When Saim Ayub bowled to Keacy Carty in the eighth over of the West Indies' innings, the batter hit hard through the covers. To stop the racing ball, Babar Azam, who was positioned in the ring, threw himself to his right.
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Mohammad Rizwan called sharply, "Kaptaana!" from behind the stumps. The irony was obvious: Babar was the team's captain until he resigned following the 2023 World Cup, while Rizwan is currently Pakistan's ODI captain. The video quickly went viral, as fans saw the moment online.
I love hearing "Kaptana"~#BabarAzam #BabarAzam #PakvsWI #PakistanCricket pic.twitter.com/ZhxgapoBIh— (@babar_a56) August 8, 2025
Babar contributed well with the bat as well, scoring 47 runs off 64 deliveries during the chase. His innings was laced with precise drives and flicks, anchoring the top order alongside Abdullah Shafique and Rizwan after the early departure of Saim Ayub. In the 24th over, Babar fell after the two provided solidity.
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This paved the way for Hasan Nawaz's confident debut. Playing a mature knock, the 22-year-old entered the game with Pakistan in a precarious position. During their unbroken 104-run partnership, he and Talat cleverly varied their strikes and hit loose deliveries to steal control away from the hosts. In his 54-ball knock, Nawaz hit three sixes and five fours. He completed the task with a boundary off the last ball he faced. Talat, who maintained his composure, finished with 41 off 37 balls, one six, and four fours.
West Indies were sent in earlier to bat and posted 280. Shai Hope (55) and Roston Chase (53) supported Evin Lewis, who led with a strong 60. With 4/51, Shaheen Shah Afridi spearheaded Pakistan's bowling attack, getting rid of Hope at a crucial moment and dismissing both openers. To end the innings, Naseem Shah contributed three wickets, including two in a row.
On Sunday, the teams will play their second ODI, with Pakistan hoping to finish the series early.
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