In an unexpected yet heartwarming moment during the third Test of the Pakistan vs England series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, a Pakistani fan expressed his unwavering support for Babar Azam, despite the star batter being dropped from the team. The placard held by the fan, which read “I skipped school to see King Babar,” drew widespread attention as it showcased the love and loyalty Pakistani cricket fans have for their captain, even during a tough phase in his career.

Fan's loyalty Amid Babar Azam's omission

Babar Azam’s exclusion from the final two Test matches against England came as a surprise to many, given his standing as one of Pakistan’s premier batters. However, a prolonged rough patch, including scores of 30 and 5 in the first Test against England in Multan and a difficult series at home against Bangladesh, forced the selectors to take the tough call. Despite his absence, fans continued to root for him, with one dedicated supporter skipping school to see the "King."

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England’s struggle as Pakistan dominate the decider

While Babar Azam was left out, the decider Test saw Pakistan take control of the game early on. By lunch on Day 1, England had slumped to 110 for 5, with Pakistani bowlers Sajid Khan and Noman Ali wreaking havoc on the top order. Sajid claimed three crucial wickets, while Noman chipped in with two, leaving England in deep trouble and struggling to keep their hopes alive in the series.

I remember the song...

Main hasu ya rou karu main kya karu!

— Sourabh Sanyal 🇮🇳 (@sourabhsanyal) October 24, 2024

Fer toh Babar ke ghar Jana chayie tha, aajkal Briyani kha reha hoga ghar me 😅😂

— Make India Proud 🇮🇳 (@ankushmahajann) October 24, 2024

Awkward. pic.twitter.com/zpGS1MTJRn

— England's Barmy Army 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🎺 (@TheBarmyArmy) October 24, 2024

Fer toh Babar ke ghar Jana chayie tha, aajkal Briyani kha reha hoga ghar me 😅😂

— Make India Proud 🇮🇳 (@ankushmahajann) October 24, 2024

Naah, this is deliberate trolling.

— Aditya Saha (@Adityakrsaha) October 24, 2024

That's strange! Kids should be taught the importance of education, not allowed to skip school for such things. It's not a good example for the future.

— Ateeq Ur Rahman (@AbbasiAteeq20) October 24, 2024