A hilarious scene took place during Babar Azam’s DRS review of the first T20I between Pakistan and Australia in Lahore. A brief blunder by TV referee Nasir Hussain resulted in an incorrect call on the live broadcast, which divided commentators and quickly drew widespread attention from fans watching the game.

Pakistan defeated Australia by 22 runs in the first T20I at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Thursday, January 29. Salman Ali Agha’s side leads 1-0 in three games. Although the home team emerged victorious, Babar’s performance with the bat was disappointing, scoring just 24 runs from 20 deliveries.

DRS in disarray after Zampa traps Babar Azam in first T20I

Adam Zampa hit Babar Azam while trying a reverse sweep in the 14th over. Australia sent the decision upstairs as on-field umpire Ahsan Raza was not convinced.

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Ball tracking showed that the delivery had been bowled outside off-stump, hit the line, and continued to hit the stumps. However, third umpire Nasir Hussain mistakenly believed that the ball had been pitched towards outside leg, possibly due to confusion caused by Babar’s stance.

The situation became even more awkward when officials were reminded that Babar was right-handed, leading to further inspections. By then, Babar had begun walking away, surprised by the delays and uncertainty during the review.

Listen to what Pakistan’s third umpire has to say

Australian team is like -Kin gararo or referee bna diya
pic.twitter.com/us3CqfpBeR

— Space Recorder (@1spacerecorder) January 30, 2026

Mixed signals from third umpire leaves officials confused

Third umpire Nasir Hussain was corrected by another official and asked to show the ball’s trajectory again. Even after a second review, he made another mistake, telling the on-field umpire to stick with the original not-out decision.

Moments later, Hussain realized the mistake and changed his call, but the mixed messages left on-field referee Ahsan Raza visibly confused. He signaled many times and ultimately made the right decision.

Long delays and repeated missteps amused commentators and players alike. A simple LBW call turned into a viral moment, with fans sharing the video widely and reacting to a chaotic sequence of comments on social media.

Babar Azam’s T20 form under scanner ahead of 2026 World Cup

Babar Azam’s T20 form continues to raise eyebrows, with questions mounting about his place in Pakistan’s 2026 T20 World Cup plans. Fans and former players discussed his recent struggles in the briefest of terms.

Against Australia, Babar failed to bat but made strong contributions on the field. He took three consecutive catches in the chase to help Pakistan pile pressure on the visitors.

Pakistan’s bowlers then did the rest and held the wicket brilliantly to win by 22 runs. While the result diverted some attention, Babar’s batting form was still closely watched.

In the Big Bash League in the 2025-26 season, he scored 202 runs in 11 games at an average of 22 and a strike rate of 103 with just two half-centuries. Modern T20 cricket demands quick runs and many are now wondering if Babar can adjust his approach in time to respond to his criticism.

Also read: Babar Azam buried by Salman Ali Agha: ‘I will bat at No. 3 because I can rule’