May 15, 2025: Star Pakistan batter Babar Azam faced online trolling from England’s Sam Billings after the two registered contrasting records in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) before it was suspended due to ongoing cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan.
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While Billings blazed to the fastest half-century of PSL 2025 in just 19 balls playing for Lahore Qalandars against Quetta Gladiators, Babar, representing Peshawar Zalmi, notched up the slowest fifty of the edition, taking 47 balls against Islamabad United. The moment was further amplified when Billings reshared an Instagram post comparing the two feats, soundtracked with music from the popular Indian web series Panchayat, injecting an ironic twist into the situation.
Amid this social media storm, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi confirmed that the PSL will resume on Saturday, May 17, with the final scheduled for Sunday, May 25.
The PSL had been suspended earlier this month due to rising military tensions. The PCB had considered relocating the tournament to the UAE, but logistical issues and security concerns led to a temporary halt. With international players exiting the league during the crisis, franchises are now struggling to reassemble their squads.
To address this, the PCB is considering a mini replacement draft for the remainder of the season. An official from one of the franchises told PTI that Multan Sultans, who only have one inconsequential match left and are out of playoff contention, will not be recalling their overseas players.
“This is because of the problems the Board and the franchises, excluding Multan Sultans, are facing in convincing their overseas players to return for the remaining matches,” the official said.
The PSL now faces a race against time to conclude the season amid a mix of political uncertainty, player availability issues, and mounting social media narratives.