Overview:
It has been a long time since he scored a hundred, with his last three-digit score coming against Nepal in 2023.
Babar Azam hasn’t been able to set the stage on fire with his bat across formats in international cricket. He has contributed in a few matches, but the list of failures continues to get bigger. It has been a long time since he scored a hundred, with his last three-digit score coming against Nepal in 2023.
He has lost his star status in Pakistan’s team, with the rivals dismissing him without any trouble. The right-handed batter was recently recalled to the T20I side for this series against South Africa, and barring one innings, he disappointed the decision-makers and the fans. In the ongoing three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, a lot is riding on him, but the former captain again registered a failure.
Babar scored just 29 runs off 51 balls, and his runs came at a strike rate of 56.86. He managed to hit just 3 boundaries during his knock. The 31-year-old was trolled on social media.
Man this Babar Azam guy is next level!!
— Rajiv (@Rajiv1841) November 11, 2025
– He copied Virat's 100 celebration,
– He copied Virat's statements,
– He copied locket kiss celebration
Now he is even copying Virat Kohli's reaction in this epic downfall😭 pic.twitter.com/HDhNzgxN9h
🚨 Babar Azam last 33 ODI innings 🚨
— ICC Asia Cricket (@ICCAsiaCricket) November 11, 2025
151(131), 66(63), 64(90), 17(22), 38(45), 23(26), 10(24), 37(44), 78(83), 29(35), 15(20), 1(3), 5(18), 28(30), 50(58), 10(15), 23(38), 47(64), 50(58), 73(95), 0(3), 18(14), 52(71), 9(23), 74(92), 10(23), 7(12), 50(65), 23(19), 11(13), 9(16),… pic.twitter.com/MjoHkQG0Iv
Hasaranga to Babar Azam 🗣️: This is not PSL kid #PAKvSL pic.twitter.com/zXXREBzra7
— Rainbow Salt (@Rainbowsalt91) November 11, 2025
Babar Azam Urf 🔔 ka 👑. He copies Virat in everything but he is not able to copy his batting and form.
— ANKUR (@ankurs000) November 11, 2025
Today, he was out again without scoring a hundred. And the dogs of Pakistan compare him to Virat Kohli. pic.twitter.com/xcUoFS0Uil
According to sources Babar Azam went straight back to nets and scored his 129th century in front of 12 year old kids after today's dismissal#PAKvsSL pic.twitter.com/afTVnJ7ygq
— Kohlights (@88off94) November 11, 2025
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka won the toss and invited Pakistan to bat first.
Captain Charith Asalanka said he expected dew later in the night at Pindi Cricket Stadium and was encouraged to bowl first.
Ace leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga has returned to the ODI format, and a debut was handed to 24-year-old left-handed opener Kamil Mishara.
Pakistan made one forced change from the team which won the third and decisive ODI against South Africa last Saturday. Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed, who bagged a career-best 4-27 on Saturday, was unwell and replaced by fast bowler Naseem Shah.
Rawalpindi will host all three ODIs in the series this week before Zimbabwe joins Pakistan and Sri Lanka for a Twenty20 tri-series.
Pakistan, led by new ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, turned around its below-par performances in 2025 by beating a depleted South Africa 2-1 last week.
Lineups
Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah.
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka (captain), Janith Liyanage, Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando.