WATCH: Babar Azam shows off his bowling skills during Pakistan's Champions One-Day Cup

Babar Azam has given spin bowling a shot, something he hasn't done much of on the international front for the Pakistan cricket team, after demonstrating his excellent batting in the current Pakistan Champions One-Day Cup. Babar, who plays for the Stallions, has scored runs in each game he has played, making him the top batter in the competition. 

The star batter for Pakistan has been in excellent form and is back among the run-scorers following a poor series against the visiting Bangladesh team. He demonstrated that his former form is back as he hammered a spectacular hundred for the Stallions in the most recent Champions Cup ODI match. But things have not gone well for him in the current competition. The opposition team's opening pair, Saim Ayub and Azan Awais put up 138 runs for the first wicket as the Stallion's bowlers labored mightily to claim wickets.

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The pair appeared at ease and produced runs with ease. When it became apparent that scoring runs would be simple, Stallions captain Muhammad Haris rolled the dice and chose to test out Babar Azam, a new bowler. The assignment to make the breakthrough fell to Babar, who is typically an off-break bowler. Babar failed to take a wicket in his two overs but was economical, conceding only nine runs.

Babar Azam will join Pakistan team for England tour

Until now, Babar's 2024 has been a miserable one. In the Australia series, he was a disappointment; in the T20 World Cup, he was a nonentity as Pakistan was eliminated in the first round. Pakistan lost the series 2-0 despite the former Test captain's paltry 64 runs in 4 innings against Bangladesh, despite high expectations placed on him. His rating in the ICC Test rankings even dropped below the tenth spot as a result.

Meanwhile, Babar Azam will no longer compete in the Champions One-Day Cup. He has left the competition, along with other players who were included in the Pakistani team for the opening Test against England. In addition to Babar, many other Stallions players, including Abrar Ahmed and Shan Masood, have also pulled out of the competition.